Pro-regime media uses Muslim Brotherhood to justify low turnout in Egypt’s Parliamentary elections

Pro- regime media in Egypt has embarked on a campaign to justify the low turnout in the country’s long- awaited Parliamentary elections, claiming the Muslim Brotherhood has bribed people to not vote so it could win the elections.

Faraeen TV anchor Tawfiq Okasha said Salafists and the Muslim Brotherhood will participate in the parliamentary elections with all their power and will succeed if people did not participate.

Journalist Adel Hammouda claimed the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafis have a plan to participate during the second day of parliamentary elections.

“The Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafis plan is to monitor the turnout during the first day and participate in large numbers tomorrow,” he said. He called on Egyptians to vote in the elections, saying: “The election costs 2 billion pounds, and the government borrowed this money.”

Meanwhile, the head of Egypt’s Judges Club Abdullah Fathi claimed the Muslim Brotherhood sent threatening letters to judges who will oversee the election process prior to the elections date.

Al- Watan newspaper said the Muslim Brotherhood offered citizens as much as 200 Egyptian pounds to withdraw their participation.

An advisor for political commentator Dr. Wahid Abdel-Mejeed said that in Egypt there is a great reluctance to participate in the parliamentary elections, adding that this year will witness the lowest turnout rate in the history of Egypt.

“The signs were clear from few weeks ago. The turnout rates would not exceed 15 to 20 percent” Abdel- Majeed said in a statement.

However, he does not believe it is a result of the Muslim Brotherhood. He said: “The people do not want to vote not because they do not have the time, or they are busy with their jobs, but it is because the Egyptians do not believe it will influence their future.”