The Egyptian “Democratic Civil Movement,” consisting of 12 political parties, stated in a press release on Monday, September 11, 2023, that “change has become an urgent necessity through free and widespread popular participation in the electoral process to choose the leader from among multiple competitors, as it is the natural (safe) approach to rejuvenating the system and preserving the country’s security and stability.”
The movement began its statement by emphasizing that “democratic change is the only means capable of protecting and preventing the collapse and fragmentation of the system, while providing the necessary guarantees for its continuity.” They added, “Change through the electoral process and free and broad popular participation in selecting the leader from among multiple competitors is the safe and natural approach to continuous development, and it is also a vital necessity to maintain the country’s security and stability.”
The statement stressed that the upcoming presidential elections come in the context of a deepening crisis in the country, where the majority of Egyptians have seen their ability to secure a decent life erode due to relentless waves of inflation and rising prices of goods and services.
The movement’s statement continued, “We view the upcoming presidential elections as a peaceful and secure opportunity to alleviate the suffering of millions, inject hope, and halt the downward spiral. Therefore, the movement firmly insists on genuinely competitive elections with a complete neutrality of state institutions.”
The movement expressed concern about the indications they have seen regarding the elections, stating, “However, the signs we have observed so far are disappointing for the process we desire. The harsh treatment of anyone running for the presidency and the aggressive media campaigns against any opposition activities discussing election arrangements suggest that there is a desire in Egypt to engineer presidential elections that enable the current president, who appears to intend to run for a third term, to complete his tenure, a situation that Egypt cannot bear now.”
The movement called on all citizens and political parties to engage with the upcoming presidential elections as a significant opportunity to open a new chapter in Egypt’s history, moving towards a more democratic state, and facilitating a dialogue to address the intertwined internal and external economic, social, political, and cultural crises currently facing the country.
The movement also emphasized the need to meet the guarantees they have requested to ensure the credibility of the upcoming elections, including complete neutrality of state institutions among all candidates, facilitating their campaign efforts and communication with citizens, and providing equal opportunities in using media outlets, with unbiased coverage of their activities without favoring any particular candidate over others.
This statement comes ahead of the presidential elections, the date of which has not been officially announced yet, but is expected to be held in late December of the current year. Egypt is facing a severe economic crisis, including a shortage of foreign currency due to the exit of non-direct foreign investments following a global increase in interest rates, as well as a decline in the purchasing power of Egyptians, rising inflation, and a devaluation of the Egyptian pound against the dollar. The government, meanwhile, attributes these challenges to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian-Ukrainian war.
It is worth noting that Sisi has not officially announced his candidacy, but some political parties have begun to coordinate their efforts to support his re-election campaign.
