Challenges for Egypt after the election

The Muslim Brotherhood's Mohammed Morsi was announced as the winner of the Egyptian election on Sunday night. However, the election proved that it is easier for different opposition groups to join forces to overthrow a government than it is for them to reach a consensus after doing so.

No doubt Egypt is on the road to democracy, but the road is uncertain and there is little hope that the election result will produce an end to 16 months of political turmoil. Unfortunately tensions are high and the possibility of chaos can't be ruled out.

Having won the election, the new administration faces an old test: establishing relations with the military. Ever since Gamal Abdel Nasser took power through a military coup in 1952, the army has played a decisive role in Egyptian politics; observers even say military officers without uniforms actually govern Egypt. Former president Hosni Mubarak's fall was to a large extent caused by the military ceasing to support him.