Elections commission criticizes Sisi campaign for distributing light bulbs

Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s presidential campaign is reportedly in hot water for breaking rules regarding electioneering, independently owned daily newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm reported Saturday.

Sisi's official Facebook page posted pictures, with the caption: “Happening now: The youth committee of the Sisi campaign distributes energy-saving light bulbs in Gamaleyya, Hussein, Azhar, Sayeda Zeinab, Warraq and Imbaba as part of the ‘bel tawfeer’ initiative.”

On May 15, Tarek al-Kholy, a member of the Sisi campaign, said that 300,000 energy-saving light bulbs would be distributed.

In media interviews, Sisi has proposed the use of energy-saving light bulbs as a solution to Egypt's energy crisis, but his campaign's enthusiasm for the idea has sparked the anger of High Elections Commission (HEC) secretary general Abdel Aziz Suleiman.

Al-Masry Al-Youm quoted Suleiman as saying that the law forbids the giving out of gifts or bribes, or the equivalent, to citizens before a ballot in the name of a candidate.

The HEC will hold an emergency meeting once it confirms that the light bulbs were distributed, Suleiman said.

Privately owned daily Al-Watan reported that the Sisi campaign stopped the distribution of light bulbs in Giza after the HEC's condemnation became known.