SHURA COUNCIL ELECTIONS OVERVIEW

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 CAIRO 001717 SIPDIS SIPDIS NSC FOR WATERS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/07/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KISL EG SUBJECT: SHURA COUNCIL ELECTIONS OVERVIEW REF: A. CAIRO 1408 ¶B. CAIRO 1128 Classified By: Counselor for Economic and Political Affairs, Catherine Hill-Herndon, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Elections for one-third of the seats in Egypt's Shura Council (upper parliamentary chamber) will be held on June 11, with run-offs to be conducted as needed on June 18. With minimal participation by legal opposition parties, attention is focused on the 19 races in which National Democratic Party (NDP) and Muslim Brotherhood (MB) candidates are competing. As the elections loom, the government has raised pressure on the MB, with a clear focus on damaging the MB's campaign effort by arresting hundreds of campaign workers and supporters and three MB candidates, and filing legal petitions to have the MB candidates barred from the election. The embryonic Supreme Electoral Commission (SEC),charged with electoral oversight, is widely viewed as not up to the task of robustly supervising the elections, and the Ministry of Interior is expected to play a central role on elections day. Streets are strewn with banners lauding various candidates, but the Egyptian public thus far seems to be characteristically apathetic and unenthused. The combination of weak independent electoral oversight, likely government interference and manipulation of results, and the small number of opposition and MB candidates running, points to a likely resounding NDP "victory." We see little prospect that the elections will mark a significant advance for Egyptian democracy. End summary. -------------- WHO IS RUNNING? WHERE? -------------- ¶2. (SBU) 88 seats of the 264-member Shura Council are up for election on June 11, and an additional 44 members will be appointed by President Hosni Mubarak, in accordance with the constitutional requirement that fifty-percent of the total membership of the Council be renewed, either by election of appointment, every three years. Half of the elected seats are "workers and farmers seats" and half are "professionals" seats. Prospective candidates submitted their nominations to the Supreme Electoral Commission (SEC) between May 17-20; on May 29, the SEC announced the final roster of 609 candidates running in 88 races in 67 constituencies spanning 24 Egyptian governorates. The races are concentrated in Cairo (6 seats), the Nile Delta provinces of Sharqiya (5 seats),Gharbiya (5 seats),Dakhaliya (5 seats),Beheira (4 seats),Menoufiyah (4 seats),and Minya (4 seats),Qalubiyah (3 seats),and Fayoum (3 seats). Due to an SEC ruling that in constituencies where only one candidate is nominated, no elections will be held and the sole candidate will automatically be declared the winner, eleven NDP candidates have already won their Shura seats uncontested. There are 598 candidates contesting the remaining 77 seats in 57 constituencies. (Note: The large Shura districts typically encompass three or more parliamentary districts. End note). ¶3. (C) The NDP is fielding a total of 108 candidates (including one woman) in the elections (11 of whom have, as noted, already won) with the result that in the 77 remaining races, approximately 40 of the 97 official NDP candidates will compete against each other, an unprecedented development reflecting weak party discipline. Moreover, in numerous races, ruling party members not selected as the official NDP candidate are running as independents, against the NDP candidate (this is a typical phenomenon in Egyptian elections: if an NDP-affiliated "independent" wins the election, he normally "rejoins" the party and claims the seat for the NDP.) The NDP's electoral platform, officially released on June 3 and published as a 4-page supplement in several government newspapers, states that it is based on Mubarak's platform in the 2005 presidential elections, and has four pillars - providing new job opportunities and fighting unemployment; improving incomes and the standard of living for all Egyptians; supporting freedom and democracy, and; maintaining the safety and security of Egypt. The NDP's election slogans are "We Promised ... and We Delivered" and "We Have Achieved So Much, and Will Achieve Much More in the Future!" ¶4. (C) Ayman Nour's Ghad Party announced in April its intent to run 26 candidates, however, the party was able to register only four candidates with the SEC. Ghad president Ehab Al Khouly told poloff that when the 26 Ghad candidates attempted to register, they were informed by SEC representatives that Ghad was not recognized as a legal Egyptian political party, and thus they could not compete under Ghad's name. According to Khouly, four Ghad candidates therefore opted to run as CAIRO 00001717 002.4 OF 003 INDEPENDENTS. HOWEVER, IT APPEARS THAT THE SEC IS NOW VIEWING THEM AS OFFICIAL GHAD CANDIDATES. FOLLOWING DIVISIVE INTERNAL DEBATES, THE SOCIALIST TAGGAMU PARTY DECIDED TO RUN THREE CANDIDATES, WHILE FADED GRAND DAME OF THE OPPOSITION, AL WAFD PARTY, CHOSE NOT TO PARTICIPATE DUE TO (AS CHARACTERIZED BY WAFD CHAIRMAN MAHMOUD ABAZA),THERE BEING "NO GUARANTEES FOR FAIR ELECTIONS ... SINCE THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS CANCELED FULL JUDICIAL OVERSIGHT OF ELECTIONS". HOWEVER, THE FORMER CHAIRMAN OF WAFD, NO'MAN GOMAA, DISGRACED IN A VIOLENT INTRA-PARTY POWER STRUGGLE AND EXPELLED FROM THE GROUP IN 2006, HAS SUCCESSFULLY REGISTERED 13 CANDIDATES LOYAL TO HIM TO RUN AS AL WAFD CANDIDATES IN THE ELECTION. THE ARAB SOCIALIST PARTY HAS PUT FORWARD 8 CANDIDATES. SEVERAL OTHER MINUSCULE PARTIES ARE RUNNING 1 OR 2 CANDIDATES, AND THE TAKAFUL ("SYNERGY") PARTY HAS REGISTERED 25 CANDIDATES; THE LATTER GROUPS ALL ARE ESSENTIALLY SHAM "OPPOSITION" PARTIES RUMORED TO BE BACKED BY THE GOVERNMENT. SEVERAL HUNDRED INDEPENDENTS, EITHER AFFILIATED WITH THE NDP OR "TRUE" INDEPENDENTS, HAVE ALSO REGISTERED TO RUN. -------------- MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD GOES WHERE IT HAS NEVER GONE BEFORE ... -------------- ¶5. (C) THE MB, WHICH IN MID-APRIL ANNOUNCED ITS INTENT TO RUN 20 SHURA CANDIDATES (REF B),REGISTERED (WITH SOME REPORTED DIFFICULTY) 19 CANDIDATES WHO ARE DE FACTO MB, BUT WHO WILL OFFICIALLY CONTEST THE ELECTIONS AS "INDEPENDENTS." THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE MB HAS RUN IN SHURA COUNCIL ELECTIONS. NO MB CANDIDATES ARE RUNNING IN CAIRO OR ALEXANDRIA; RATHER, THE GROUP IS FOCUSING ON RACES IN THE NILE DELTA AREA, A TRADITIONAL MB STRONG-HOLD. AS THE SHURA ELECTIONS NEAR, THE GOVERNMENT HAS RAISED THE PRESSURE ON THE MB, WITH A CLEAR FOCUS ON DAMAGING THE GROUP'S CAMPAIGN EFFORT. IN ADDITION TO THE REPORTED ARRESTS OF HUNDREDS OF MB CAMPAIGN WORKERS AND SUPPORTERS, THREE MB SHURA CANDIDATES (RUNNING IN DAKHALIYA, ZAGAZIG, AND FAYOUM) WERE ARRESTED IN THE PAST WEEK; TWO REPORTEDLY REMAIN IN DETENTION. ON JUNE 6, AT A CAMPAIGN MARCH FOR AN MB CANDIDATE IN DAMIETTA, THE CANDIDATE AND HIS SUPPORTERS WERE ALLEGEDLY BEATEN BY EGYPTIAN SECURITY FORCES. ACCORDING TO A STATEMENT POSTED ON THE MB'S WEBSITE, 335 MB MEMBERS HAVE BEEN DETAINED IN THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS, INCLUDING A BUSLOAD OF SUPPORTERS OF ONE MB CANDIDATE EN ROUTE TO A SPEECH, AND OTHERS FOR HANGING CAMPAIGN POSTERS FOR MB CANDIDATES WHICH INCLUDE "ISLAMIC MESSAGES." ¶6. (C) UNDER THE RECENT CHANGES TO THE POLITICAL RIGHTS LAW (REF A),THE USE OF RELIGIOUS SLOGANS AND SYMBOLS, AS WELL AS "THE CARRYING OUT OF ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES OF A RELIGIOUS REFERENCE OR NATURE" ARE NOW BANNED, A CLEAR GOE EFFORT TO PREVENT THE MB FROM USING ITS DECADES-OLD RECOGNIZABLE SLOGAN, "ISLAM IS THE SOLUTION." EGYPTIAN MEDIA REPORTS HAVE ASSERTED THAT SOME MB CANDIDATES HAVE THUS OPTED TO USE THE SLOGAN "TOGETHER FOR REFORM"; EMBOFFS HAVE NOT YET SEEN ANY POSTERS USING SOLELY THAT SLOGAN. ON THE MB'S WEBSITE, THE ORGANIZATION'S ELECTORAL PLATFORM APPEARS UNDER A LOGO SHOWING BOTH THE SLOGANS "ISLAM IS THE SOLUTION" AND "TOGETHER FOR REFORM." SEPTEL REPORT TO FOLLOW ON THE MB'S RECENTLY UNVEILED ELECTORAL PLATFORM. ¶7. (C) IN A JUNE 6 MEETING WITH THE DEPUTY OF THE NDP'S SECRETARY FOR ORGANIZATION, THE NDP OFFICIAL TOLD POLOFF THAT SIPDIS THE NDPS LEADERSHIP EXPECTS THE MB TO WIN "AT LEAST" 10 SHURA COUNCIL SEATS. HE NOTED THAT "IT IS DIFFICULT FOR THE NDP TO COMPETE AGAINST SUCH AN ORGANIZED GROUP, THAT HAS SUCH OBEDIENT AND ENTHUSIASTIC FOLLOWERS," THEREFORE, "THE GOVERNMENT IS TAKING A MORE ASSERTIVE, TOUGH STANCE AGAINST THE MB IN THE SHURA ELECTIONS THAN IN THE 2005 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS, WHEN WE FELT PRESSURED BY THE U.S. AND EUROPE, AND SO WERE AFRAID TO TEAR DOWN THE MB'S POSTERS." THE NDP OFFICIAL CONFIRMED THAT NDP SECRETARY-GENERAL SAFWAT EL SHERIF FILED A REQUEST WITH THE SUPREME ELECTORAL COMMISSION ON JUNE 5, REQUESTING THAT 17 MB CANDIDATES BE DROPPED FROM THE BALLOT. ARGUING THAT THE MB CANDIDATES ARE IN VIOLATION OF THE CONSTITUTION AND THE POLITICAL RIGHTS LAW, SHERIF PROVIDED THE SEC WITH PRINTOUTS OF THE MB'S CANDIDATE LISTS (WHICH WERE POSTED ON THE GROUP'S WEBSITE) AND MB ELECTIONS MATERIAL THAT INCLUDES "PHRASES WITH A RELIGIOUS REFERENCE." IT IS UNCLEAR WHEN THE SEC WILL RULE ON SHERIF'S PETITION. ¶8. (SBU) ON JUNE 5, THE MB'S PARLIAMENTARY BLOC RELEASED A STATEMENT CONDEMNING THE "VIOLATIONS AGAINST MB CANDIDATES AND SUPPORTERS IN THE SHURA COUNCIL ELECTIONS," ASSERTING, "THESE ELECTIONS ARE THE FIRST PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF THE NOTORIOUS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS .... THESE LAWS PRACTICALLY LEGALIZE OPPRESSING THE OPPOSITION AND RIGGING CAIRO 00001717 003 OF 003 the elections." The statement continues, "When electoral procedures began, the Interior Ministry started to run these elections using its familiar and well-known methods - candidates were prevented from reaching committees that receive nomination papers, bailiffs were beaten, lawyers were threatened and candidates were beaten .... Then, the Interior Ministry launched its oppressive campaign against those who managed to lodge their nomination papers, harassing them and hunting them down, arresting them in police stations and fabricating charges against their supporters. MB MP's view as unreasonable and unacceptable the government's oppressive practice of monopolizing all state services in a sharp, aggressive and violent confrontation with 19 MB candidates who represent the Egyptian people's aspirations towards democracy and reform, and warn that this may lead to the spread of the culture of violence and risking the future of this homeland. The parliamentary bloc calls for abiding by the rule of law, fully respecting court rulings, and protecting human rights and dignity." -------------- SUPREME ELECTORAL COMMISSION AND ELECTIONS MONITORS -------------- ¶9. (SBU) According to a variety of contacts, including NDP officials, the embryonic structure of the newly-created 11-member Supreme Electoral Commission (SEC),officially tasked with electoral oversight, is not up to robustly supervising the elections. All thus expect the Ministry of Interior to play a central role on June 11. In the brief period since its creation in mid-May, the SEC has issued a set of regulations regarding the conduct of the Shura elections, including: a campaign spending limit of 100,000 LE (roughly 17,500 USD),banning election bribes and the use of "public facilities" (e.g., universities, mosques) for campaigning purposes. The SEC has stated that it will at a minimum, strike from the ballot any names of candidates in violation of the regulations, and the candidates could also be fined and/or imprisoned. ¶10. (SBU) USAID is funding two coalitions of Egyptian NGOs (under the leadership of the Naqib Center and the Egyptian Association to Support Democracy) to monitor the elections. MEPI funding to the Ibn Khaldun Center is supporting a third monitoring coalition. Our NGO partners estimate that they will field approximately 6,000 monitors on election day, and other groups are also undertaking monitoring efforts. USAID has also funded two NGO networks to monitor voter registration and related issues in the run-up to the election. Emboffs will also deploy in Cairo, Alexandria, and throughout the Nile Delta region, to observe the elections. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶11. (C) The streets of Cairo and Alexandria are strewn with banners lauding various candidates, but the Egyptian public thus far seems to be characteristically apathetic and unenthused. In this first electoral match-up between the NDP and MB for a national-level body since the 2005 parliamentary elections, the issue of voter turnout will be a key indicator of each group's current ability to mobilize its base. In the face the government's intense targeting of the MB's campaign and the anticipated use of security forces on election day, it will be particularly notable if MB voters still go to the polls in large numbers. Across Egypt, ballot box stuffing, vote buying and other electoral fraud is likely to occur. In districts where the MB is running, we cannot rule out the possibility that we will witness a recurrence of the elections day violence that occurred in the 2005 parliamentary elections. Overall, the combination of weak independent electoral oversight, likely government interference and manipulation of results, and the small number of opposition and MB candidates running, points to a likely resounding NDP "victory." We see little prospect that the June 11 elections will mark a significant advance for Egyptian democracy. RICCIARDONE