Egyptian leader fears low turnout in no-contest poll

THE Egyptian state will try to mobilise millions of voters today amid concern that a low turnout in this week’s “nocontest” election would embarrass Abdel Fattah el-sisi.

The Egyptian president now has no real competition in the election after all credible opponents were arrested or intimidated out of the race.

Facing only Moussa Mostafa Moussa, a token challenger drafted on to the ballot at the last minute, Mr Sisi’s allies are most concerned that disinterested Egyptians will simply not turn out.

In an effort to drum up enthusiasm, Egyptian cities have been plastered with banners showing Mr Sisi’s image, with some posters made to look like spontaneous outbursts of support from enthusiastic citizens.

Some civil servants claim to have been ordered to vote for the president and there are widespread reports of businesses and factories being told by local officials to bus their workers to the polls to cast ballots for Mr Sisi.

State media has also carried warnings that people who do not vote will face a fine of 500 Egyptian pounds (£20), a significant sum for families struggling in a difficult economy.

“Using the word ‘election’ is simply inappropriate. It lets them set the vocabulary for a publicity stunt, which is fundamentally undemocratic,” said Timothy Kaldas, of the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy.

“The only question is how many people will be somehow brought into this process to make it look legitimate. But there is no question of who will win, the voting is just a formality.”

Opposition leaders have called for a boycott of the election after several challengers to Mr Sisi were arrested.

“We call on our great people to boycott these elections entirely, and to not recognise anything that results from it,” opposition figures said.

Mr Moussa had endorsed the president for re-election before announcing he was getting into the race and has voiced no criticism of Mr Sisi during several weeks of low-key campaigning.

Mr Sisi won 97 per cent of the vote in 2014 presidential elections with a turnout of 47.5 per cent, according to official figures. Analysts expect he will aim for similar figures. Official results are expected to be announced on April 2.