The Muslim Brotherhood\u2019s candidate appeared likely to face off against either a former prime minister who served under ousted president Hosni Mubarak or a leftist contender whose popularity surged at the end of the race, according to predictions Friday by political parties based on preliminary results in Egypt\u2019s first free presidential election.<\/p>\n
A contest between Mohammed Morsi, a conservative Islamist, and Ahmed Shafiq, Mubarak\u2019s last prime minister, would present a stark choice for Egyptians. A win for Morsi would give the venerable Islamist group a near-monopoly on political power, raising fears among secular Egyptians of a state governed by a strict interpretation of Islamic law. If Shafiq were to prevail, many Egyptians would feel that their revolution last year paved the way for a politician with a past and governing philosophy in line with the autocrat they ousted.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt would be extremely polarizing,\u201d\u009d said Shadi Hamid, an Egypt expert at the Brookings Doha Center. \u201cThere would be a lot of boycotting. It\u2019s the worst-case scenario.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n