Meant to get around to Egypt's recent election- Apathy over Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s triumph echoes Mubarak eraCouldn't help but notice how quiet the US is on this election? No big condemnation. Despite the low turnout? Despite the fact that even with the addition of another day of voting and threats being made, not too many Egyptians bothered? No ringing endorsement either- Perhaps better to keep the attention off of a poor showing?Abdel Fattah al-Sisi declared his candidacy for president while wearing his military uniformThis is an interesting item- US risks losing Suez access with continued suspension of aidInteresting because the US didn't really suspend aid. Some aid but not all of it.This amount is cited
On April 29, a leading member of Congress, Sen. Patrick Leahy, placed ahold on $650 million in U.S. military aid to Egypt.
Considering the billions received annually, overtly, from the US. I don't know how big a deal the 650 million is? It is also highly doubtful there is any real risk of the US losing access to the Suez? But, selling that concept may be enough to get all aid reinstated and who knows, perhaps some additional aid? Can't discount a hard sell agenda.Getting back to the election
Egypt’s former army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, won a predicted landslide victory over his sole challenger in the country’s presidential race according to provisional results released on Thursday.But while no one had doubted an impending Sisi victory – he got 93 per cent of the vote and Hamdeen Sabahi, his leftwing opponent only 3 per cent – his success was overshadowed by panic in the former army chief’s camp about a low turnout undermining the vote’s legitimacy.The electoral commission responded by taking the extraordinary step of prolonging the vote into a third day and threatening to fine people who did not cast their ballots.Officials said 25m people voted, a turnout of 48 per cent. Mr Sabahi said the voter turnout figures lacked credibility and were “an insult to the intelligence of Egyptians.”In depth
The low voter turnout is quite telling? Because it flies in the face of that lie of a popularly supported coup!Remember that? It was supposed to be the Egyptian people that wanted the elected leadership out last year.The Egyptian military was supposed to be acting to benefit the populace. On behalf of the populace. That was the spin of the day. So,why didn't all that alleged popular support = a big thank you at the election poll ?
Mr Sisi had wanted an overwhelming turnout — 40m voters was the figure he cited on the eve of the poll — to confirm his leadership and signal to doubters that his ousting last year of Mohamed Morsi, the elected Islamist president, was a reflection of the popular will and not a coup.
Mr Sisi did not get that overwhelming turnout. So,on whose behalf did he oust Morsi? Throwing the country into more turmoil
Voided votes as third candidate in elections
The number of voided votes in Egypt’s 2014 presidential election exceeded the votes of the left-wing contender Hamdeen Sabbahi.
Unofficial preliminary tallies which circulated in media outlets following the closure of polling stations on Wednesday showed that Sabbahi garnered 735,285 votes while the invalid votes reached over a million
“Those who boycotted of spoiled their votes tried to express their dissatisfaction with the idea of restoring the military-based rule of Egypt, said Ishak.
Yet another divisive election for EgyptDon't miss Israel Shamir interview Israel Shamir - The Ukraine in Turmoil