The Economist: Egypt’s Election Offers No Choice

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi will win what the Economist is describing as a sham of an election. Opponent Moussa Mustafa Moussa “has lived up to a promise not to challenge the president,” notes the Economist. The election, March 26 to 28, is Egypt’s ninth national ballot since the 2011 revolution that ousted authoritarian President Hosni Mubarak. The first election in 2012 resulted in a win for the Muslim Brotherhood, which procured the presidency and a majority in parliament. However, the following year al-Sisi – defense minister at the time – overthrew the Brotherhood in a military coup. Now, the country finds itself under authoritarian rule once more and economic crises on the horizon. Public debt to foreign creditors has skyrocketed since 2013, from $46 billion to more than $80 billion, as the state continues to invest in costly projects like expansion of the Suez Canal and a new capital city. Moreover, “high prices have caused many Egyptians to spend less. Meat has become an unaffordable luxury for the poor. The middle class has cut back on everything from groceries to education.” Economic woes and low literacy rates, coupled with minimal private sector job growth, might not beget another revolution, but discontented challengers within the state may begin to rear their heads. – YaleGlobal