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As mbad protests shake other Arab countries, an instant referendum in Egypt goes against the grain and strengthens the power of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for years to come.
The three-day poll saw constitutional changes taking place allowing the former army chief to remain in power until 2030, to strengthen his control over the judiciary and to give to the The army has an even greater influence in political life.
In the midst of criticisms that Sisi had reduced opposition to silence and repressed freedoms, officials said more than 88 percent of the votes cast were for "yes."
The government has "ensured that Egyptians do not see any credible alternative to Sisi for not imagining an Egypt ruled by anyone," said Timothy Kaldas, a non-resident member of the Institute. Tahrir for the Middle East. Eastern Policy.
Voting in the most populous country in the Arab world follows uprisings that forced the veteran leaders of Algeria and Sudan to withdraw earlier this month.
And Kaldas said that after years of turmoil that saw the overthrow of longtime leader Hosni Mubarak and his Islamist successor Mohamed Morsi, stability remains a priority for many Egyptians.
"Some still support Sisi and think that he has prevented Egypt from suffering the fate of its neighbors," he said.
The Egyptian National Electoral Commission announced the result of the referendum extending the power of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. By MOHAMED EL-SHAHED (AFP)
"For most Egyptians, they think they have overthrown two presidents and have seen their quality of life deteriorate every time, so it is unlikely that a third uprising will improve the situation."
About 27 million votes were cast, with a turnout of 44.33%, in the referendum after his call and its holding in a few days.
The amendments extend Sisi's current mandate until 2024 from 2022 and allow him to run for a new six-year term.
"The country is on the right track and it is stable (…) It makes sense that Sisi has every chance to finish what it started," said Mervat Abdel Fattah, a housewife of 39, fifty years or so.
After the result, state television aired images of Sisi supporters wielding flags and resounding national airs on Tahrir Square – the site of angry protests that toppled his two predecessors.
No "unified" opposition
Analysts attribute Sisi's overwhelming victory to the fractured state of marginalized opposition in Egypt and the use of state resources to support the changes.
Officials said more than 88 percent of the votes cast were in favor of constitutional changes. By Khaled DESOUKI (AFP / File)
The lack of political power of the opposition and the absence of "a unified position on the referendum" allowed Sisi to win easily, said Ziad Aqel, an expert in political sociology at Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies.
Especially when it is badociated with a "mobilization" of the ballot boxes by state organs, he added.
While people were out on the streets to celebrate the event, Aqel said their behavior was "typical" of a political process controlled almost entirely by the state.
The New York-based center, Soufan, said before the vote that the amendments had helped "consolidate Sissi's grip" on Egyptian politics.
The absence of public opposition to constitutional changes was "probably a result of the oppressive nature of the Egyptian government," he said in a report released last week.
Turn the tide
As chief of the military staff at the time, Sisi led the overthrow of President-elect Morsi by the army in 2013 following mbadive demonstrations against the regime. of the Islamist leader.
Sisi won his first term as president in 2014, three years after the uprising that toppled Mubarak, and was re-elected in March 2018 with over 97% of the vote, after being virtually opposed.
His government has been widely criticized by human rights groups for cracking down on political opponents, thousands of whom have been jailed.
The instant referendum was called and took place in a few days. By Mohamed el-Shahed (AFP / File)
Sisi security services are backing a policy to silence dissidents on social networks, who played a key role in overthrowing Mubarak.
Reporters Without Borders says 33 journalists are in an Egyptian prison. The authorities denounce these accusations, claiming that they have no political prisoners.
The referendum in Egypt and its results thwarted the trend in neighboring countries such as Sudan, where protesters managed to overthrow Omar al-Bashir earlier this month after 30 years of rule by the iron hand.
Sudanese protesters now demand that the army, which took power after helping overthrow the veteran leader, put the reins back into civilian rule.
This happened a little more than a week after an uprising in Algeria forced longtime President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to step down.
Protesters have been holding rallies ever since, calling for a complete overhaul of the country's political system.
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