Egypt's Sisi makes fair bid prior to parliamentary elections

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Tuesday that he has no intention to establish a political party, which has been reassuring to politicians in Egypt, especially at a time months ahead of the parliamentary elections.

Following his two-day meetings with representatives and leaders of various political parties, Sisi said on Tuesday that he does not intend to establish a political party "to avoid division or polarization," stressing that the state would not support any political alliance or party list in the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled to kick off in March.

"It is considered a reassuring message to political parties because if the president establishes a party it will easily garner most of the coming parliament's seats," Gamal Salama, head of political science department at Suez University, told Xinhua.

Salama added that in this case most people will try to join the president's political party to guarantee their victory in the parliamentary polls, arguing that the move gives room for non-polarized competition in the upcoming elections.

Throughout Egypt's modern history, military-oriented presidents led ruling political parties, the last of which was the currently- dismantled National Democratic Party (NDP) that was led by late President Anwar Sadat and later by ousted President Hosni Mubarak, giving dim chances for opposition parties to influence political life in the country.

Since January 2011, Egypt witnessed two uprisings that led to the ouster of two heads of state: long-time ruler Mubarak and former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi who was removed by then-military chief Sisi in July 2013 after mass protests against his one-year rule.

"In normal circumstances the president hails from a specific political party but the current situation is different and exceptional," professor Salama said, arguing that the president should have a bloc inside the parliament to assist him but this is not the case "at least for the current stage."

The 2015 parliamentary polls in Egypt, scheduled from March 21 to May 7, represent the final step of the three-stage future roadmap, including presidential elections and a new constitution, outlined by the new military-oriented leadership following the overthrow of Morsi.

Magdy al-Daqaq, writer and former editor-in-chief of state-run October Magazine, said that Sisi's concerns about division and polarization if he establishes a political party are "correct."

Echoing Salama's view, Daqaq believes that Sisi's move is justifiable for the current stage, "but in the future the president needs a political party to support him to achieve real renaissance, security and stability."

According to Daqaq, the partisan experience in Egypt proved the faults of the ex-ruling NDP in some stages yet it showed also mistakes and disagreements on the part of opposition political parties.

"Unfortunately, there is not a great partisan experience in Egypt and there is not a big political party that enjoys majority support in the country," the writer told Xinhua, lamenting that the new parties formed in Egypt following the recent uprisings are "insignificant."

Sisi has recently approved an electoral law according to which the parliament will be comprised of a total of 567 seats, 420 for independent candidates, 120 for party-based ones and 27 for presidential appointees.

For his part, Hussein Abdel-Razik, political expert and leading member of Tagammu Party, appreciated Sisi's announcement not to establish a political party, noting that the constitution prevents the president from being involved in partisan work.

"Fortunately, the president is aware of that and he knows that if he establishes one he will be surrounded by opportunists and Machiavellians," the expert told Xinhua.

As for the upcoming parliamentary polls, Abdel-Razik dismissed chances for fraud, arguing that Egypt has passed the stage of electoral fraud through its 2011 and 2013 popular uprisings.

However, like most political parties in Egypt, the expert expressed fear that the new election law, which specifies 80 percent of the 567 seats for individuals, may open the door for wealthy corrupt businessmen and former government figures to use their influence to get into the parliament.

"This will produce a parliament where wealth is playing a large role while political programs and activities are absent," said Abdel-Razik. Enditem