Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat – Political life in Egypt will be “very gloomy” after the Muslim Brotherhood achieved major gains in the parliamentary elections the leftist Tagammu (Grouping) Party leader said on Wednesday.

Dr. Rifat Said was commenting on his party’s poor showing in the elections exclusively to Asharq al Awsat.

Only two candidates from the Tagammu Party won in the first round vote in Greater Cairo out of a total of 18 while the Brotherhood obtained 34.

Al Said blamed the widespread use of illicit campaign money and the lack of punishment for bribery for his group’s lack of success.

He denounced the ruling National Democratic Party for not applying a ceiling on its campaign spending which, in turn, prompted independent and Muslim Brotherhood candidates to spend even more.

He also held the Higher Electoral Committee and the security services responsible for this poor showing.

The Committee failed to intervene to halt the overspending while the police stood idle as bribery was taking place out in the open, he added.