Egypt's 2018 presidential election contenders

[HannibalBarca]

We knew this was going to happen years ago. Sisi is just really good at hiding his intentions if you listen to him speak and all his actions are way behind the scenes. He let's the elite and the ones around him make the moves in covert ways so that he appears not to be the one who's doing this. For example, he didn't announce his candidacy until very late, which is not ordinary for an incumbent and instead, kept raising doubt and keeping the people curious for as long as possible while at the same time saying things like "well, I wasn't going to run but if the Egyptian people want me to run for president, I will consider it." Not even "I will" but "I will consider it." So he's really conscientious of trying not to make it look like he's behind the scenes of making the playing field completely tilted in his favor by allowing all of the powerful people around him to do it. Whether they do it at his behest or it's just an understanding that he's going along with, is hard to tell.



He said the same thing 2 years ago about this election and that's when we're gong to see if his intentions are like Mubarak and Erdogan because the Egyptian constitution limits the presidency to 2 4-year terms and that's it, but the Egyptian Parliament (which is stacked with Sisi fans) have been trying to push for an change to that amendment to increase the presidential terms to 6 years. They claim 4-year terms are not enough for a president to be able to make significant progress to the country but the interesting thing is that despite the very strong push for that, it got voted down by the same parliament. So there is hope that the Egyptian parliament will be the antithesis to any attempted corruption of the constitution. We will find out in 2022 for sure, if Egypt is on it's way to having truly democratically elected presidents, but in this election we won't because of 2 reasons.

1) Sisi is not only too powerful with too much support and no real, popular candidate has or will rise to challenge him for that reason.

2) He's done incredible things for the country in his last 4 years that no one can deny, which puts him in the front-runner seat with most people.

Time will tell... But as things are right now... I feel 2022 gonna get "interesting" so to speak...

 

[Gomig-21]

Egyptians decided this, now let them deal with consequences, good or bad. It's their choice.

Well, we can certainly accept any criticism that is well deserved. The NGO is keeping tabs on this process and will make a determination as to whether the process was legitimate or not, which is about as good as we can expect at this point. The problem is that when someone is as powerful as Sisi, his challenger needs to be almost as powerful and at least super charismatic and strong willed. All the candidates we've seen so far are far from anything close to Sisi in terms of character, strength of personality and charisma and most of all, hardly have any following from their past actions. The only one who did was Sami Anan who IMO, is not only cut from the same cloth as Sisi but is worst in terms of shady dealings, which is something you really can't even pin on Sisi.

The economic boom in Egypt is astonishing. Development is moving at an unprecedented scale. Foreign investments have practically doubled in the past year alone. Inflation has decreased substantially just in the last year and is projected to be under 7% by 2022 from 35% last year! Foreign reserves were down to a frightening $9 billion in 2013 when Morsi was removed, it's now at $37 billion and increasing daily. New cities are being built (the new Cairo is going to be unbelievable), new tunnels under the Suez Canal almost finished and the canal renovation which Sisi was responsible for has brought the revenues up from $3 billion to $5.6 in just 2 years! A new health care system that has just been introduced (probably one of the best things that has happened) and you're seeing a lot of work done on infrastructure as well. The people Sisi has appointed are some of the best decisions he's made, especially for local programs such as sanitation and roads to a lot of the secluded villages etc.

These are all things that many on the outside don't see. They only see the negative things that are mentioned in this thread and the usual anti-Sisi stuff, which is fine because he's definitely no angel, but it's also good to familiarize oneself of the entire picture.

 

[Serpentine]

Well, we can certainly accept any criticism that is well deserved. The NGO is keeping tabs on this process and will make a determination as to whether the process was legitimate or not, which is about as good as we can expect at this point. The problem is that when someone is as powerful as Sisi, his challenger needs to be almost as powerful and at least super charismatic and strong willed. All the candidates we've seen so far are far from anything close to Sisi in terms of character, strength of personality and charisma and most of all, hardly have any following from their past actions. The only one who did was Sami Anan who IMO, is not only cut from the same cloth as Sisi but is worst in terms of shady dealings, which is something you really can't even pin on Sisi.

The economic boom in Egypt is astonishing. Development is moving at an unprecedented scale. Foreign investments have practically doubled in the past year alone. Inflation has decreased substantially just in the last year and is projected to be under 7% by 2022 from 35% last year! Foreign reserves were down to a frightening $9 billion in 2013 when Morsi was removed, it's now at $37 billion and increasing daily. New cities are being built (the new Cairo is going to be unbelievable), new tunnels under the Suez Canal almost finished and the canal renovation which Sisi was responsible for has brought the revenues up from $3 billion to $5.6 in just 2 years! A new health care system that has just been introduced (probably one of the best things that has happened) and you're seeing a lot of work done on infrastructure as well. The people Sisi has appointed are some of the best decisions he's made, especially for local programs such as sanitation and roads to a lot of the secluded villages etc.

These are all things that many on the outside don't see. They only see the negative things that are mentioned in this thread and the usual anti-Sisi stuff, which is fine because he's definitely no angel, but it's also good to familiarize oneself of the entire picture.

I did not judge anything about Egypt and I wish nothing but prosperity and a great country for Egyptians. All I said is that Sisi is a result of Egyptians' own actions and they can deal with the results of that decision, no matter what that is, and I hope it's good certainly. Others should not interfere in Egypt's internal affairs. If people of Egypt don't like Sisi, they can kick him out just like Mubarak and if they like him, they can keep him, it's not business of foreigners to decide.

 

[HannibalBarca]

I did not judge anything about Egypt and I wish nothing but prosperity and a great country for Egyptians. All I said is that Sisi is a result of Egyptians' own actions and they can deal with the results of that decision, no matter what that is, and I hope it's good certainly. Others should not interfere in Egypt's internal affairs. If people of Egypt don't like Sisi, they can kick him out just like Mubarak and if they like him, they can keep him, it's not business of foreigners to decide.

Well...if everytime you need to kick a president that will end by hundreds of death in the process+ destroying the economy... I ain't calling it "Good"... Therefore Egyptians Should "CHange" the way/the process to "Choose" one of them...

And Yes... Foreign views or at least those from the region do matter... Since the one elected do "Influence" the next door guy... Check Libya/Yemen and Egypt foot in it... and so on
Ofc foreigners can't do anything about the process of choosing since they ain't voting..;BUT they mostly have the right to give their opinion on such matters...

 

[Crocodile]

Out of all the many reasons that make up a long list of why I'm not a fan of Sisi, being 'undemocratic' isn't even close to making the list, not even by a mile.

The real reason I do not fully support him is that he's failed to fulfill his expected role as a proper dictator, i.e. one who combines Ataturk's vision with Putin's playbook (Trump's attitude would be a bonus). To clarify: he's failed to achieve several goals that would've made him truly the greatest pharaoh of all times.

1- He has failed to eradicate the Muslim Brotherhood from the face of the Earth. Instead to this day they're still lurking in the shadow waiting for the opportunity to regain power.

2- He's too soft on the neckbeard salafist freaks. He keeps allowing them to brainwash the minds of the Egyptian masses instead of pushing them to the fringes of society where they belong. And what infuriates me is that he refuses to see them for the unarmed terrorists that they are.

3- In Sinai, he has failed to implement what I like to call " the Russian school of dealing with cretins", aka the school of "F you and everyone within a hundred meter radius around you".. it worked wonders against ISIS in Syria, maybe we should give it a try.

4- Population: Enough said.

But that's just the little fascist inside me speaking. Don't take it too seriously.

 

[Ceylal]

Out of all the many reasons that make up a long list of why I'm not a fan of Sisi, being 'undemocratic' isn't even close to making the list, not even by a mile.

The real reason I do not fully support him is that he's failed to fulfill his expected role as a proper dictator, i.e. one who combines Ataturk's vision with Putin's playbook (Trump's attitude would be a bonus). To clarify: he's failed to achieve several goals that would've made him truly the greatest pharaoh of all times.

1- He has failed to eradicate the Muslim Brotherhood from the face of the Earth. Instead to this day they're still lurking in the shadow waiting for the opportunity to regain power.

2- He's too soft on the neckbeard salafist freaks. He keeps allowing them to brainwash the minds of the Egyptian masses instead of pushing them to the fringes of society where they belong. And what infuriates me is that he refuses to see them for the unarmed terrorists that they are.

3- In Sinai, he has failed to implement what I like to call " the Russian school of dealing with cretins", aka the school of "F you and everyone within a hundred meter radius around you".. it worked wonders against ISIS in Syria, maybe we should give it a try.

4- Population: Enough said.

But that's just the little fascist inside me speaking. Don't take it too seriously.

Sissi is for a lot of Egyptian, God on earth, God of Egypt..and you are going to rub some the PDF’s against the hair of their neck..I second your opinion, but the few you named are due to inexperience and the matriarchal way of all Muslims to rule..They rule like they rule their family...The worst things that he has done is to make Egypt indebted to the Khalledji to the tune of over $70 B and turn the Egyptian army into a mercenary one in the service of the Sauds and the Emiratis..

 

[TurkeyForever]

What is the minimum wage in Egypt? Be honest.

I heard it's too cheap to take a cab etc.

I'd focus on economy, also focus on production, you import too much basic goods from Turkey and elsewhere.

Also fix your infrastructure maybe with foreign investment, a friend in egypt told me your internet speed is extremely slow.

 

[Crocodile]

Sissi is for a lot of Egyptian, God on earth, God of Egypt..and you are going to rub some the PDF’s against the hair of their neck..

I'm actually counting on that.. I know for a fact that for many islamist-leaning scum, the word "Pharaoh" means the epitome of of evil and tyranny. They actually use the word like it's some sort of insult.. But guess what, I'm not apologizing for my people's heritage, all the triggered neckbeards can go drink from a gutter for all I care. Or better yet, get in line with the rest of their cretin friends and wait for their one way ticket to the virgins.

 

[Ceylal]

I'm actually counting on that.. I know for a fact that for many islamist-leaning scum, the word "Pharaoh" means the epitome of of evil and tyranny. They actually use the word like it's some sort of insult.. But guess what, I'm not apologizing for my people's heritage, all the triggered neckbeards can go drink from a gutter for all I care. Or better yet, get in line with the rest of their cretin friends and wait for their one way ticket to the virgins.

Its refreshing to read your comments. This is out the norm of the PDF’s participants who are conditioned to follow their respectif government guideline..Kudos to you!

 

[Gomig-21]

I did not judge anything about Egypt and I wish nothing but prosperity and a great country for Egyptians. All I said is that Sisi is a result of Egyptians' own actions and they can deal with the results of that decision, no matter what that is, and I hope it's good certainly. Others should not interfere in Egypt's internal affairs. If people of Egypt don't like Sisi, they can kick him out just like Mubarak and if they like him, they can keep him, it's not business of foreigners to decide.

And I never insinuated that you were judging anything, my friend. I was merely expounding on your comment, that's all. I was also listing a lot of the things that have happened under Sisi's term which others really don't know about, just so they can see the entire picture and not just the biased, anti/Sisi anti/Egypt stuff that permeates this forum. Much of what has happened under his presidency flies under the radar because it's actually very positive and only the bad news comes to the forefront because people have a fetish for bad news and for negativity. It creates funner exchanges and allows one to feel more important than he really is, if you understand my meaning.

Out of all the many reasons that make up a long list of why I'm not a fan of Sisi, being 'undemocratic' isn't even close to making the list, not even by a mile.

The real reason I do not fully support him is that he's failed to fulfill his expected role as a proper dictator, i.e. one who combines Ataturk's vision with Putin's playbook (Trump's attitude would be a bonus). To clarify: he's failed to achieve several goals that would've made him truly the greatest pharaoh of all times.

1- He has failed to eradicate the Muslim Brotherhood from the face of the Earth. Instead to this day they're still lurking in the shadow waiting for the opportunity to regain power.

2- He's too soft on the neckbeard salafist freaks. He keeps allowing them to brainwash the minds of the Egyptian masses instead of pushing them to the fringes of society where they belong. And what infuriates me is that he refuses to see them for the unarmed terrorists that they are.

3- In Sinai, he has failed to implement what I like to call " the Russian school of dealing with cretins", aka the school of "F you and everyone within a hundred meter radius around you".. it worked wonders against ISIS in Syria, maybe we should give it a try.

4- Population: Enough said.

But that's just the little fascist inside me speaking. Don't take it too seriously.

Hahaha, bro, that was good. You have changed quite a bit like you said.
He needs to be an even bigger dictator lol. He is walking a fine line with the neckbeards because he doesn't want to be portrayed as the evil, human slayer. Obama and the previous US administration made a huge deal about his human rights record and it has stuck with many outlets that he's become conscientious of it.

By the same token, to raze northern Sinai as if it's Aleppo is not practical. The WOT has been his greatest challenge so far as well as the economy but he's made a lot more positive moves than negative ones. There's also the issue of military presence in Sinai that razing ala Putin style would be difficult anyway, not to mention the small issue of collateral damage.

 

[Crocodile]

Hahaha, bro, that was good. You have changed quite a bit like you said.
He needs to be an even bigger dictator lol. He is walking a fine line with the neckbeards because he doesn't want to be portrayed as the evil, human slayer. Obama and the previous US administration made a huge deal about his human rights record and it has stuck with many outlets that he's become conscientious of it.

I believe he wasted a golden window of opportunity in the early months of Trump's presidency to eradicate the islamists once and for all. Relations were at their best in years and terror attacks were still at full swing all over the world. No one would've missed a bunch of dirty neckbeards if they were, for example, made to disappear in the desert. Too bad our relationship with Uncle Sam is not as good right now. Hopefully he'll have a chance in his 2nd term to fix this.

By the same token, to raze northern Sinai as if it's Aleppo is not practical. The WOT has been his greatest challenge so far as well as the economy but he's made a lot more positive moves than negative ones. There's also the issue of military presence in Sinai that razing ala Putin style would be difficult anyway, not to mention the small issue of collateral damage.

One word: Afghanistan. You probably understand what I'm talking about.