Egyptians who took part in Arab Spring say voting ‘useless’
CAIRO: As banners supporting Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi’s bid for a second term fill Cairo’s streets, some who participated in the 2011 democratic uprising say they will boycott this month’s “predetermined” elections. “It’s been a downwards slippery slope since the last presidential elections (in 2014): nothing is improving,” said Sami, who took part in the January 2011 uprising which toppled longtime president Hosni Mubarak. Sisi, as defense minister, led the July 2013 ouster of former Islamist president Mohamed Morsi following mass protests against his divisive one-year rule.
Now, Sisi is seeking another term in the March 26-28 elections, running against Moussa Mostafa Moussa, a candidate who had previously expressed support for the incumbent. Other presidential hopefuls were arrested or withdrew. “It’s a nominal participation. They couldn’t have just one person running unopposed, so they brought someone just as a show so they can say there is competition,” said Sarah. Like Sami and everyone else interviewed in this story, she asked to be identified by a pseudonym. “I won’t put the effort and vote in an election that is already predetermined,” she said.
2011 hopes dashed
The situation is a far cry from Sarah’s high hopes in 2011, when she joined protests “excited to have free and fair elections, and to vote in competitive elections where my voice would make a difference.” Over 18 days, mostly young Egyptians overcame thousands of security forces, capturing Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo. There, they camped day and night until Mubarak, who had been in power for nearly 30 years, left office. The military then took charge of the country. Soon after, major Mubarak-era officials were arrested and courts began examining cases of police brutality. “It was an incredible moment of hope; the sky was the limit,” said Sami.
After the military’s year in power, Morsi, who hailed from the Muslim Brotherhood group, became Egypt’s first democratically elected civilian president in 2012. A year later, Egyptians concerned at the rise of political Islam within the government supported Morsi’s ouster, with many hoping further democratic elections would follow. “But what happened next, with the nomination of another person from the military, it was very clear that we went back to the same loop,” said Sami.
When he joined the 2011 protests, he was hoping for “freedom and liberty”. But during the years of turmoil that followed, many gave up these demands in favor of economic stability and security. People “were upset, but opted for calmness,” he said. “Now, the outcome is zero. Economically, everyone is pressured, no matter your income level, all your savings and income were slashed in half.” With its foreign exchange reserves down since the uprising, Egypt floated the pound in 2016, causing the currency to lose more than half its value against the dollar. — AFP