Update: Strong Egypt Party says it will not take part in referendum

The Strong Egypt Party says it will not participate in the upcoming referendum, in light of recent developments that indicate that the process violates the most basic democratic principles, according to a statement released on Monday.

The party said that its decision comes amid the “repressive atmosphere and incitement against any opposition.”

While the party said it had been part of the “June 30 movement,” supported its main demand of holding early presidential elections, and even agreed to take part in the referendum and vote “no,” the atmosphere in the run-up to the referendum has forced the party to reconsider its position.

The statement criticizes the fueling of public opinion and media campaigns aimed at swaying the public, whether state-sponsored or independent, as well as the vilification of anyone who opposes the draft constitution.

Earlier on Monday, the Egypt Strong Party said it would suspend its campaign against the draft constitution, following the arrests of some of its members Sunday night.

The party said the decision comes in light of the “arrest campaign and systematic security violations” its members are subjected to, according to a statement posted on the Strong Egypt Party Facebook page.

The party had earlier announced it would take part in the run-up to the referendum, scheduled to take place on January 14 and 15, and campaign for a “no” vote.

On Sunday night, three more members of the Strong Egypt Party were arrested in Cairo after posting and distributing material promoting a “no” vote for the draft constitution, according to the party’s statement.

“Mohamed Abu Leila, Ahmed Badawy and Samy Ashraf were arrested while presenting the party’s stance on rejecting the draft constitution to the public through posters and flyers in Hadayek al-Qobba neighborhood,” reported Ahmed Imam, the party’s spokesperson. 

Imam said that the continued arrests proves that the authorities “want nothing but a yes vote on this constitution by any means possible, and do not want a true democratic process that reflects the different opinions.”

This, Imam says, undermines any attempts to resolve the political crisis through the people’s free will, forcing the party to reconsider its stance towards the referendum.

In its latest statement, the party condemned the arrest campaigns and security violations that the party’s members were subjected to while performing the legal and constitutional right to call for a “no” vote.

The party said it will not take part in any protests or marches planned on the days of the referendum.

However, it maintains that it will not turn its back on any legal and political mechanisms to resolve the political crisis and called on Egyptians to commit to peaceful protests, reiterating its rejection to vandalism as well as violations by security bodies. 

Last week, three other members of the Strong Egypt Party were arrested while distributing posters promoting a “no” vote in the upcoming constitutional referendum.

A few days earlier, the party’s coordinator in Gharbeya, north of Cairo, was also arrested.

Even before the draft constitution was completed, television commercials and street posters campaigning for a “yes” vote began flooding the public sphere. Except for disgruntled graffiti drawn on walls, there has been almost no evidence of a “no” campaign.