Egypt between the hammer and the anvil

[unhappycamper]

http://atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/MID-01-270514.html



Egypt between the hammer and the anvil
By Muhamed Arabi
May 27, '14

CAIRO - Egypt's presidential elections this week came amid a downbeat and tense atmosphere in the country. There are only two candidates - the recently resigned Field Marshall Abdul-Fattah Al-Sisi, Egypt's strongman who orchestrated the July 3, 2013, overthrow of president Mohamed Morsi, and Hamdeen Sabbahi, a left-winger who holds Nasserite views of nationalism.

For many pundits who monitor Egypt's situation, Sisi's victory is a foregone conclusion and the vote will be merely a farce. A closer look at both of the candidates' politics and programs reveals who has the highest chance of winning and who will shape Egypt's future.

Since the day he rose into the political arena, there has been an all-out propagandist campaign for the purpose of lionizing Sisi in the sight of the masses. State-run media glorifies him with many names: the savior who rescued them from falling into the pit of extremism, the tamer of terrorism and the national hero of the hour.

As for his general politics, Sisi stresses the dire need to enter economic austerity programs to salvage the country from bankruptcy.

[bemildred]

1. He is the choice or the old guard elites to replace Hosni, that is clear.

He has that entitled look.