In a stable democracy, one with checks and balances, divergent political paradigms clashing does not translate into potential for a societal explosion. Egypt is many things, but a democracy it is not. In fact, rather than a vote for Sisi, per se, the newely elected autocrat’s victory was more about a refusal of political Islam as an avenue of governance than it was a vote of confidence for his modus operendi.
While the final election results trumpted a winning margin of 97% no analyst, of sound mind, believes these numbers to be a true measure of Sisi’s public support base. The chief reason, many believe, Sisi to be immune from the same fate that befell his predecessors revolved around societal fatigue. Idea, at its most basic level, revolves around fact that Egypt has witnessed 3 years of instability and protest and , as a result, is more likely to excercise patience with the new president. This outlook ignores some basic facts:
1.)While fatigue cant be discounted Egyptians have learned a more voiceferous approach to self expression as a dorect result of the Jan 25 revolution.
2.) Sisi inherited problems, both economic and political, that would be challenging to a most experienced politicians. Sisi is neither politician nor experienced.
3.)Increasing pressure from price hikes, rampant unemployement, failing tourism, 2 angry camps ( revoolutionaries and Islamists) are increasing the heat.
4.)Security situation, even after Sisi ‘corononation’, has continued to worsen with signs of violence creeping ever closer to the heart of Cairo.
5.) The final ingridient, maybe most troubling of all: arms are flowing into Egypt from its western, southern, and to a lesser degree from its eastern flank.
So while it is true that , currently, Sisi enjoyed majority support it is equally untrue to believe that he enjoys unimpeachable massive support. The difference between the two, far from a subtle one, is crucial in understanding the potential for another domestic explosion.
To these eyes, it is not a question of whether a faceoff is coming it is only a matter of when.
Words Reign Supreme 