Despite mass arrests, police harassment and an essentially closed political system, Brotherhood candidates have made strong showings in several parliamentary elections.

All but one of the Brotherhood candidates lost their seats in the 2010 election marred by massive arrests of Brethren and polling place observers.

Of the winning 47 independents, 34 are Muslim Brotherhood candidates which is considered to be a major surprise in this election.

When Muslim Brotherhood candidates made a good showing in the first round of voting, security forces barred voters from entering the polls for the second round.

In 2008 the state disqualified most Brotherhood candidates in the local council elections.

But when asked if she would vote for a Muslim Brotherhood candidate in Egypt, she said "Yeah, why not?"

The state delayed local council elections from 2006 to 2008, disqualifying most Muslim Brotherhood candidates.

The main tactic was the mass arrest of poll-watchers who would have monitored voting for Labor Party and Brotherhood candidates.

Similarly in Jordan, Muslim Brotherhood candidates scored a major triumph by winning more than a third of parliamentary seats in free elections two years ago.

But even if the government accepts this, some restriction is expected, to block any Muslim Brotherhood candidate.