Election boycott frustrates pro-Sisi journalists who call for penalties

A number of Egyptian journalists who support the coup have expressed frustration at the boycott of the parliamentary election in what has been termed a “miserable” poll scenario. A number of journalists have even called for restoring the 500 Egyptian pounds penalty to be imposed on those who boycott the vote.

At the end of the first day of the election, polling stations closed their doors in the first phase governorates after a feeble turn out estimated to be about 2.27 per cent of eligible voters. This, according to the pro-coup media, is an extraordinary situation that has never been seen before, not even during the days of ousted Hosni Mubarak.

TV anchor Lamis Al-Hadidi expressed her “astonishment” at the aversion of citizens to take part in the parliamentary election. Commenting on the extremely low turn-out she said, “The political administration should observe caution… an alarm bell is ringing.”

Speaking during her programme Huna Al-Asimah (“This is the Capital”) on CBC satellite channel on Sunday, Al-Hadidi added that the low turn-out by the electorate points to a loss of confidence in the value of political participation. Citizens, she said, feel that they have no role in the decision-making process so the election itself is not serious. She accused candidates of not doing enough to mobilise the electorate in their own constituencies. Explaining that the media was able to mobilise the masses during the referendum over the constitution and during the presidential election, she noted that journalists cannot do the same for the parliamentary election because it is a “game of interests”.

“The candidates should have taken to the streets in their own constituencies in a more effective manner to inform the electorate of the importance of taking part,” insisted Al-Hadidi. “Yet, this has not happened, and they lose and we lose with them.”

According to Yousef Al-Husseini, the current election scene is “miserable”, with “most of the polling stations completely empty.” His television show Al-Sada Al-Muhtaramoun (“The Honourable Gentlemen”), carried footage of some very empty polling stations in Fayyoum. “Such a spectacular turnout,” he commented sarcastically. “The empty polling stations cannot be described simply as being due to a mere boycott or aversion; it is absolute abstention.” He added that the media will not just bang the drum and say things that are not true in order to make people happy.

Al-Husseini confessed to being a bit bewildered by the low turn-out. “We have seen about eight elections over the past few years in which citizens turned out in great numbers, so why haven’t they participated this time?” He asked President Al-Sisi to look into this problem to assess the reasons and put remedies in place.

The presenters on Al-Yam Channel suggested that the government should reintroduce the penalty of 500 Egyptian pounds for those who don’t vote. Amr Adib, Ranya Badawi and lawyer Khalid Abu Bakr shared an interesting conversation about this.

“Now, I have a law which states that whoever does not go to vote, I shall take 500 pounds from him,” said Badawi. “I already have a budget deficit so let the state effectively announce that it will implement this. In this way we shall raise billions for the country instead of having to go and get them from abroad.”

“And those who refuse to pay,” responded Adib, “what will you do with them? I have been hearing this since the time I was wearing short trousers.”

“The law is an expression of will,” chipped-in Abu Bakr. “There has to be the will to implement it. When someone goes to obtain an identity card or a driving licence we should say to him, ‘Pay the 500 pounds penalty’.”

Adib rejected this idea and said: “Believe it or not, let him who comes to vote for Egypt because of money go to hell.”

Abu Bakr agreed that it would look ugly, to which Badawi replied, “Do you think the polling stations look beautiful when they are completely empty?”

Having visited many polling stations, Arabi 21 can testify to the absence of voters throughout the day, apart from a very small number. The streets and squares appeared to be empty too; the heated discussions and arguments of previous elections were missing. With such a low turnout, it is not clear how anyone will be able to claim any electoral legitimacy from the “results”.