Bringing Out The Vote
"Egypt and Saudi Arabia can work together to face threats, either internally like the Muslim Brotherhood, or externally like Iran and its supporters in the area."
"I think the Saudis will do all they can to support Sisi now he has been elected as he was supported by the Egyptian people."
Mohammed Zulfa, member, Shura Council, Saudi Arabia
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| A supporter of presidential hopeful Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, Egypt's former military chief, holds his poster and a national flag during a celebration at Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, Thursday, May 29, 2014. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil) |
Not quite what was anticipated in the run-up to this latest presidential election, however. The routinely sham democratic elections that were staged to 're-elect' former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak were well enough acknowledged for their notorious absurdity; as the sole candidate Mr. Mubarak enjoyed something approximating a 90% popular vote.
On the occasion of what most surely represented a more 'democratic' stage, Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi was given a 93.3 approval-rating by voters who, it was anticipated would come out in their droves, all eager to give the final stamp of approval to the presidency of the Egyptian general whose swift action saved Egypt from the talons of the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood which had a stranglehold on the country.
Mind, when the election took place that elevated Mohammed Morsi to the presidency for a one-year term of office that turned out to be so disastrously ineffectual other than to mire the country deeper in economic straits and threaten the ancient Christian Copt community, a fairly robust voter turnout was occasioned that hoisted the Brotherhood into power with a 52% turnout, compared to the wan turnout of 46% for the current election.
Overweening confidence and a heavy-handed campaign can result in such a desultory public reaction, it would seem. President-elect El-Sissi had issued a call for 40 million people representing 80% of the electorate to turn out to vote. He had the support of the armed forces and the Interior Ministry, along with that of influential Egyptian businessmen.
But the all-too-obvious partisanship of the state along with never-ending media propaganda appears to have turned the voting public away, spurning that too-obvious manipulation as an insult to their intelligence. Aided, without doubt by the call from the Brotherhood to boycott the election.
Even people who felt compelled to support the army failed to turn out in numbers. Many felt it to be a foregone conclusion so why aid the pantomime?
After arrests of liberal Islamists and leftists who were out campaigning during and after the constitutional referendum, support evaporated from among that demographic as well, and many simply joined the boycott movement. Adding a third voting day doesn't appear to have made any difference whatever to the turnout. A disappointment and bit of a surprise for the man who would be president.
And, in fact, now is. May he do well for his country. "All in all the weak turnout will make it harder for Sisi to impose painful economic reforms that international institutions and investors are demanding", commented Anna Boyd, analyst at IHS Jane's in London. Never fear, Saudi Arabia has the means at its disposal to aid Egypt in ensuring financial stability leading to social stability.
Right?
Labels: Conflict, Democracy, Economy, Egypt, Islam, Muslim Brotherhood, Social-Cultural Deviations
posted by Pieface @ Friday, May 30, 2014
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