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| Egyptian elections a sham, says opposition amid calls for boycott | Egyptian elections a sham, says opposition amid calls for boycott |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Two leading Egyptian opposition figures have called for a boycott of the parliamentary elections, saying they refuse to legitimise a sham process. | Two leading Egyptian opposition figures have called for a boycott of the parliamentary elections, saying they refuse to legitimise a sham process. |
| Mohamed ElBaradei – a former UN diplomat and a founding member of the National Salvation Front (NSF), a coalition of non-Islamist parties – said he would "not be part of an act of deception". Last week, his ally Hamdeen Sabbahi withdrew his leftwing Popular Current party from the elections for similar reasons. | Mohamed ElBaradei – a former UN diplomat and a founding member of the National Salvation Front (NSF), a coalition of non-Islamist parties – said he would "not be part of an act of deception". Last week, his ally Hamdeen Sabbahi withdrew his leftwing Popular Current party from the elections for similar reasons. |
| The NSF has notdecided whether to withdraw. But many within it also fear that loopholes in Egypt's new electoral legislation will allow Islamists to rig results in favour of the Freedom and Justice party (FJP), the political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist group from which Egypt's polarising president, Mohamed Morsi, hails. | The NSF has notdecided whether to withdraw. But many within it also fear that loopholes in Egypt's new electoral legislation will allow Islamists to rig results in favour of the Freedom and Justice party (FJP), the political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist group from which Egypt's polarising president, Mohamed Morsi, hails. |
| In return, the FJP claims the NSF wants to walk away from the democratic process simply because it lacks support. The FJP has been the most successful party at every election since the fall of Hosni Mubarak two years ago, while Morsi's approval ratings, according to a recent poll, remain at 53%. | In return, the FJP claims the NSF wants to walk away from the democratic process simply because it lacks support. The FJP has been the most successful party at every election since the fall of Hosni Mubarak two years ago, while Morsi's approval ratings, according to a recent poll, remain at 53%. |
| The elections will take place in four stages over three months. One stage was originally organised for the Easter weekend, a decision that outraged Egypt's Coptic Christian minority, prompting it to be postponed. | The elections will take place in four stages over three months. One stage was originally organised for the Easter weekend, a decision that outraged Egypt's Coptic Christian minority, prompting it to be postponed. |
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