Strong Egypt Party to boycott upcoming parliamentary elections

On Wednesday, the moderate Islamic Strong Egypt Party became the second political group to announce that it would be boycotting the upcoming parliamentary elections, scheduled for March and April. 

The Strong Egypt Party followed in the footsteps of the centrist Popular Current Party, led by former presidential contender Hamdeen Sabbahi, which announced on January 6 that it would not partake in forthcoming legislative elections.

The Strong Egypt Party issued a statement on its official webpage on Wednesday explaining that it would boycott these parliamentary elections "due to the lack of adequate democratic standards" existing in the country under the regime of Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

The statement added, "The political climate which is witnessing increased restrictions with each passing day, setbacks to public and private freedoms, along with the seizure of public spaces does not allow real competition for those who are not part of the system."

Party Spokesperson Mohamed Soliman announced in a televised press conference that the ruling regime is seeking to weaken and divide Egypt's parties, while marginalizing the country's youth from the political sphere.

Soliman likened the parliamentary elections of 2015 to "the rigged elections in 2010 which resulted in a popular uprising a few months later." 

This spokesperson added that "a lack of popular trust in Egypt's justice system, coupled with a heavy-handed tactics of the security apparatus" and "a lack of a clear political vision" have deterred many from partaking in the transitional political process.    

The party's chief, Abdel Moneim Abouel Fotouh, had initially supported the state's interim "political roadmap" but has since stepped away from the ruling regime and their ambitions.

The Strong Egypt Party opted to vote against the interim authorities' draft constitution during the popular referendum in January 2014. Three youth party members were arrested in January of that year whilst campaigning against the constitution.

Sabbahi's Popular Current boycott of the parliamentary elections has been attributed to "obstinacy in listening to the demands of political parties," according to a party statement.

The Popular Current also cited the amendment of the 'parliamentary elections law' as the primary reason behind their boycott. Popular Current Spokesperson Ahmed Kamal told Reuters last month that this law is "biased in favor of privileged candidates as opposed to political parties."

According to the provisions of Egypt's 2014 Constitution, parliamentary elections were due to be held six months after the issuance of the constitution, around June or July 2014. 

However, interim authorities have pushed back this constitutionally specified elections schedule to nearly a year, in which time a host of laws have been issued executive order, specifically through former interim President Adly Mansour, President Sisi, and their cabinets.