Sisi vs. Sabahi Round One. Fight!

Finally! The Egyptian presidential race is drawing to a close with the actual elections taking place today and tomorrow. What began in 2011 by people who probably thought they were pushing their country towards DEMOCRACY (but who knew then, or took the time to seriously think about, what this democracy was supposed to mean?), broken briefly in mid-2012 by Mohamed Morsy's one-year reign (he was the only non-army president in the history of this country), is finally running it's course today, three years later. But while it is probably not completely unreasonable to assume that the whole world is watching, it is also generally understood that not many are holding their breath. And as the era of Egypt's latest "transformation" is nearing it's grand finale, many suggest that Egypt might have actually run a full circle.

What about the campaign itself? Well, some might argue that it began on the 30th of June 2013 with Sisi "liberating" Egypt from Muslim Brotherhood rule and riding towards the sunset like a knight in shining armor. So far he's still riding, Sabahi, the only other candidate, tagging along on a pony. Sometimes I wonder, if they are paying him to run, just so Sisi can have his illusion of democratic elections (Sabahi came in 3rd in the Morsy elections of 2012). I'd like to think he is trying to make a statement, because it is highly unlikely that he believes in his own victory.

Overall it's been peaceful, if you don't count the arrests (according to some sources, the number of those arrested since Morsy's ouster has reached 41 thousand), most notably that of Mahienour El-Massry, who was arrested for rioting in connection with the Khaled Said process and who has grown into something of an icon of the oppositional fight, the massive killings at Rab3a el Adaweya back in the Summer, the epic death sentences (16,000 Muslim Brotherhood supporters arrested, 1,200 sentenced to death by the same judge in two court sessions), the odd bombings and the few demonstrations of pro and anti-Sisi groups (including one, where a pro-Sisi group attacked an anti-Sisi demonstration with Molotov cocktails). Individuals and companies have been showing their support for the x-general in various ways, from plastering the cities of Egypt with posters and banners (some of those in Cairo occupying the walls of whole apartment blocks), to naming their businesses after him (i.e. the "Sosisi" - "my sausage" shop in Cairo), to putting his face on anything from pralines to underwear. With such a show of support from his compatriots, the candidate has stated that he will not spend a piaster on his own campaign. Obviously, he does not need to.

Underwear with general Sisi and a brasserie with the sign of Rab3a - his opposition. Picture: source unknown.

Meanwhile, the streets are empty - only taxi drivers racing on the Corniche outside my office window with the odd election car cruising by (small car equipped with huge Egyptian flags, playing patriotic music - a usual sight during elections, supposedly meant to encourage people to vote) and helicopters flying low above our heads. A3di. Silence before a storm?

Further reading:

1. "Sisi will win Egypt's vote, but what then?" by H. A. Hellyer, Al Arabya

2. "41,000 Egyptians arrested since Morsy's ouster says NGO", Egyptian Streets

3. Words of Women from the Egyptian Revolution. Episode 10: "Manhienour El-Massry"

4. We are all Khaled Said

5. "Egypt: Pro-Sisi crowd attacks anti-Sisi protest with Molotov", Middle East Monitor

6. "You can draw hearts and write 'I love you' on ballots in Egypt's elections", Egyptian Streets

7. "Egyptian judge to rule on death penalty for 1,200 men", The Guardian

8. "Will Egypt stay sweet on al-Sisi in the long run?", USA Today