Poll credibility at stake in Egypt

CAIRO: The arrest and intimidation of potential candidates, opposition supporters and violations against independent media have cast doubt over credible elections in Egypt.

The restive North African nation of 96 million people will hold presidential polls on March 26-28 with Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, in power since 2014, seeking re-election.

Fattah el-Sisi, an army chief, lead a coalition that overthrew Mohamed Morsi from power and suspended the Egyptian constitution.

The presidential elections were meant to enable citizens to renew the democratic legitimacy of their political leaders and to strengthen social cohesion.

Germany is the latest country to doubt the credibility of the outcome in the wake of el-Sisi’s regime initiating a crack-down against opponents and the media.

“I fear that in Egypt the opportunities brought by free and fair elections are not being seized,” Bärbel Kofler, Germany Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid at the Foreign Office said.

Kofler called on the Egyptian state organs to end the repression of critics to enable all citizens to exercise their freedom of expression, assembly and the press.

The Supreme Council for Media Regulation has banned four entertainment and satirical shows on “moral grounds”. –