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Egypt Scrambles to Raise Turnout in Presidential Vote Egypt Scrambles to Raise Turnout in Presidential Vote
(about 1 hour later)
CAIRO — Egypt’s military-backed government showed signs of panic on Tuesday at the conspicuously low voter turnout in the presidential election that was expected to confer new legitimacy on the rule of Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the former army field marshal. CAIRO — Egypt’s military-backed government showed signs of panic on Tuesday at the conspicuously low turnout in the presidential vote that was expected to confer new legitimacy on the former general who ousted the elected president last summer.
On the second of two scheduled days of voting, the government rushed to get more Egyptians to the polls and took the extraordinary step of extending the voting by an additional day. First, officials had extended voting by an hour, to 10 p.m., but when the number of voters failed to increase by the evening, the government went even further. On the second of two scheduled days of voting, the government initially extended the polling by an hour, until 10 p.m., then, when evening failed to bring a surge of voters, it took the extraordinary step of adding a third day to try to get more people to the polls.
A holiday was declared for state and private employees, banks and the stock market. Train and subway fares were suspended. State television said that the police would help transport the elderly or the sick to polling stations, and it repeated admonishments from Muslim and Christian leaders about a religious duty to vote. Officials said that the government would fine those who did not vote up to $70 — a large sum for most Egyptians — and, unlike in the past, that the fines would be enforced. A holiday was declared for state and private employees, banks and the stock market. Train and subway fares were suspended. State television said that the police would help the elderly or the sick get to polling stations, and it repeated admonishments from Muslim and Christian leaders about a religious duty to vote. Officials said that the government would fine those who did not vote up to $70 — a large sum for most Egyptians — and, unlike in the past, that the fines would be enforced.
“People, come out so that you do not complain later,” Tarek Shebl, an election commissioner, pleaded in a television interview.“People, come out so that you do not complain later,” Tarek Shebl, an election commissioner, pleaded in a television interview.
Talk show hosts who support Mr. Sisi — an excitable crew who dominate the airwaves — warned breathlessly that the low turnout would repudiate the former general’s ouster of the nation’s democratically elected president, Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood, last summer. Pro-military television talk show hosts — an excitable crew who dominate the airwaves — warned breathlessly that the low turnout would repudiate the ouster of the nation’s democratically elected president, Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood, by the former general set to become president, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
“What are we going to say to the world?” the talk show host Amr Adib screamed in apparent despair during his Monday night broadcast. “We have to open the prison, reinstate Mohamed Morsi, and tell him, ‘Your Excellency, Mr. President Morsi, go ahead and rule.'”“What are we going to say to the world?” the talk show host Amr Adib screamed in apparent despair during his Monday night broadcast. “We have to open the prison, reinstate Mohamed Morsi, and tell him, ‘Your Excellency, Mr. President Morsi, go ahead and rule.'”
The removal of Mr. Morsi is the event that introduced Mr. Sisi to the Egyptian public and remains his principal achievement, and his supporters had counted on a decent turnout this week to vindicate his claim to represent a majority of Egyptians.The removal of Mr. Morsi is the event that introduced Mr. Sisi to the Egyptian public and remains his principal achievement, and his supporters had counted on a decent turnout this week to vindicate his claim to represent a majority of Egyptians.
But Islamist and liberal groups urged Egyptians to boycott the election, arguing that the vote was unfair and illegitimate. Most potential candidates refused to enter the race because the government appeared to back Mr. Sisi. He faced only one weak and ideologically similar competitor, the Nasserite populist Hamdeen Sabahi, leaving little suspense about the outcome.But Islamist and liberal groups urged Egyptians to boycott the election, arguing that the vote was unfair and illegitimate. Most potential candidates refused to enter the race because the government appeared to back Mr. Sisi. He faced only one weak and ideologically similar competitor, the Nasserite populist Hamdeen Sabahi, leaving little suspense about the outcome.
The only question was turnout: Would Mr. Sisi beat the 13.2 million votes that Mr. Morsi received to win the 2012 presidential election? Or the 6.3 million votes reportedly recorded by former President Hosni Mubarak in his uncompetitive re-election seven years before that?The only question was turnout: Would Mr. Sisi beat the 13.2 million votes that Mr. Morsi received to win the 2012 presidential election? Or the 6.3 million votes reportedly recorded by former President Hosni Mubarak in his uncompetitive re-election seven years before that?
Despite the official threats and news media hectoring, polling stations remained virtually deserted on Tuesday in Cairo, where support for Mr. Sisi is likely to be strongest. In previous elections, the capital was the stronghold of support for military candidates like Mr. Sisi.Despite the official threats and news media hectoring, polling stations remained virtually deserted on Tuesday in Cairo, where support for Mr. Sisi is likely to be strongest. In previous elections, the capital was the stronghold of support for military candidates like Mr. Sisi.
Mustafa Bakry, a politician and television talk show host who has led official rallies for Mr. Sisi, declared in a Monday night broadcast, “We are in a state of war, and turnout is the headline.”Mustafa Bakry, a politician and television talk show host who has led official rallies for Mr. Sisi, declared in a Monday night broadcast, “We are in a state of war, and turnout is the headline.”
“Anybody who does not vote is giving the kiss of life to the terrorists,” he said. “Those who do not come out are traitors, traitors, traitors who are selling out this country.”“Anybody who does not vote is giving the kiss of life to the terrorists,” he said. “Those who do not come out are traitors, traitors, traitors who are selling out this country.”
On another talk show, a viewer calling in broke down in tears. “The polling stations are empty, and I don’t know what to do,” she wailed. “I will go mad, I will die.”On another talk show, a viewer calling in broke down in tears. “The polling stations are empty, and I don’t know what to do,” she wailed. “I will go mad, I will die.”
Mr. Adib was so distraught that one caller tried to console him. “Please, Mr. Amr, smile, do not fear,” the caller told him, promising that voters would go to the polls.Mr. Adib was so distraught that one caller tried to console him. “Please, Mr. Amr, smile, do not fear,” the caller told him, promising that voters would go to the polls.
Analysts said the low turnout underscored the scale of the challenge Mr. Sisi will face if he hopes to unify the deeply divided country, still reeling from the ouster of two presidents in three years. Mr. Sisi has said that his move against Mr. Morsi was an extension of the 2011 democratic uprising. But the new government has said it must first deal with a sometimes violent Islamist backlash before it can address demands for police reform, freedom of expression or social justice.Analysts said the low turnout underscored the scale of the challenge Mr. Sisi will face if he hopes to unify the deeply divided country, still reeling from the ouster of two presidents in three years. Mr. Sisi has said that his move against Mr. Morsi was an extension of the 2011 democratic uprising. But the new government has said it must first deal with a sometimes violent Islamist backlash before it can address demands for police reform, freedom of expression or social justice.
“Sisi is not Nasser,” said Samer Shehata, an Egyptian political scientist at the University of Oklahoma, referring to former President Gamal Abdel Nasser.“Sisi is not Nasser,” said Samer Shehata, an Egyptian political scientist at the University of Oklahoma, referring to former President Gamal Abdel Nasser.
“He no longer has that kind of popularity. His shine is quickly fading,” Mr. Shehata said, citing recent polling data. “Egypt’s political divisions are deeper than ever, and his authoritarianism is increasingly obvious.”“He no longer has that kind of popularity. His shine is quickly fading,” Mr. Shehata said, citing recent polling data. “Egypt’s political divisions are deeper than ever, and his authoritarianism is increasingly obvious.”