⁍ Nation’s Future has emerged as the main force likely to carry Sisi’s programme.
⁍ The party has no formal link to Sisi but is flourishing at a time when the state’s grip over politics and the media is at its tightest for decades.
⁍ Many in rural and poor areas refer to Nation’s Future as ‘the party of the president
– Egypt holds elections this weekend, and one party in particular is widely expected to win—and it has no ties to President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi. The Nation’s Future, or Nation’s Future, is seen as the main force likely to carry Sisi’s program in a compliant parliament, and is expected by both voters and politicians to benefit from new electoral rules to lock in control of the chamber, Reuters reports. The party has no formal link to Sisi but is flourishing at a time when the state’s grip over politics and the media is at its tightest for decades. A music video produced by the party that has aired on state TV shows consumer goods including fridges and cookers being distributed to grateful citizens in packaging adorned with Sisi’s image alongside the party logo. Ahead of the vote, which begins on Saturday and lasts several weeks, the party’s candidates have promised to help bring infrastructure and services to local areas. “The Nation’s Future Party is a party that naturally dominates on the ground,’ one candidate, Ramadan Abu Hassan, told a gathering of villagers near Beni Suef city, about 60 miles south of Cairo. “For any disaster that happens, it will be by the citizen’s side.” Seven prospective parliamentary candidates contacted by Reuters said they were required to make large donations to Nation’s Future or a national fund set up by Sisi. The deputy head of Nation’s Future has said in televised comments that the party takes only voluntary donations, and denied using money to influence voters.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-egypt-election/pro-sisi-party-set-to-lock-in-control-as-egypt-heads-to-polls-idUSKBN277227