You cannot teach an old dog new tricks. Regardless of all his obvious advantages, Mubarak could not convince himself he can win a fair elections. The result, a ridiculous and corrupt exercise in which even the long suffering Egyptians so little reason to participate.

54% of the Egyptians turned out in May to approve of multi-candidate elections. 23% turned out to chose a candidate.

still, by coming in a surprising second, Nour has the mandate to act as the head of the opposition. His political talent will determine whether Mubarak Fils has just acquired a serious rival. In other words, the elections may not have been for naught after all.