 |
Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 9 -15 November 2000 Issue No.507 
| ||
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
| ||
|
Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 9 -15 November 2000 Issue No.507
| ||
| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
| ||
Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Books Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Carrots and sticks
By Omayma Abdel-LatifWhen Muslim Brotherhood spokesman Ma'amoun El-Hodeibi decided to go on an election tour of his constituency, he had what to many seemed like the whole of the Interior Ministry for company. Dozens of plain-clothes security men were on his trail -- the odd thing being that they were not there to ensure his security.
"Wherever he went, the police hounded him. Whoever he spoke to was subsequently interrogated by the same squad," claimed one of El-Hodeibi's supporters. Shortly after the tour, El-Hodeibi's campaign manager was arrested, along with scores of his supporters. "They want to scare people off so they won't vote for us, but the people know exactly who they want," the 72-year-old Brotherhood veteran told Al-Ahram Weekly. El-Hodeibi's confidence is partly due to the surprisingly strong showing of the Brotherhood in the elections so far, as they have gained 15 seats in the first two rounds -- despite police harassment.
Election fever is sweeping through the working-class enclaves of the Doqqi-Agouza constituency. Banners festoon every street and alleyway, carrying pledges of allegiance for the NDP candidates. But in the wealthier areas, such as those around the Shooting Club, Sphinx Square and Gam'at Al-Dowal Al-Arabiya Street, there was hardly any campaigning. Paradoxically, it is the impoverished enclaves of the constituency which actually determine who wins in this largely professional middle class constituency.
The constituency, which includes Doqqi, Agouza and Bein Al-Sarayat, has 67,000 registered voters. It is a world of contradictions. Poverty-stricken areas, such as Al-Hetyia and Meit Oqba, lie next to the wealthy areas of Nadi Al-Sayd and Al-Messaha -- and the dividing line is almost invisible.
Although there are 12 candidates fighting for the professionals' seat, the battle is mainly between Amal Osman, former minister of social affairs and deputy speaker of the outgoing People's Assembly, and El-Hodeibi. Both ran against each other in the 1995 elections, when Osman emerged as the winner.
There is a conspicuous absence of opposition party candidates, except for one from the Wafd party running for the workers' seat. The rest are independents.
A young resident of Meit Oqba commented: "This time it is definitely not going to be the NDP representing us. We have had them for so long and they have done us no good." Ahmed Sobhi, 29, added that "the minister comes here every time there are elections and promises the old people pensions, because she thinks that this will ensure that they vote for her. However, as soon as she secures their support, she then gives them only blankets."
The NDP candidate for the workers' seat, Sayed Gohar, who is running against 17 other candidates, does not seem to be any more popular with the young electorate, who constitute almost 60 per cent of registered voters. "If we vote for him, he will get richer and we will get poorer," a young voter remarked.
This view is not shared, however, by some of the elders in the constituency. Amm Rashad, 69, who owns a shop in the Al-Hetyia area in one of the back alleys of Agouza, says he will vote for the ruling party. "The NDP is the ruling party, which means that its members can deliver services," he argued.
In elections where party politics appear to be absent, the ability of a candidate to deliver services is the yardstick by which people judge his worth. This does not work in El-Hodeibi's favour.
"We are aware that he is not corrupt and that he is not in the elections for personal gain, but the question is: can he really do something for us?" asked Younis Mohamed, a resident of Meit Oqba and an employee at a textile factory.
Financial compensation is among the most heated issues in the constituency. Due to the construction of the Cairo ring road, many families had to be evacuated. Some were compensated, but many others were not. Many of the houses that remain are dilapidated. The government has not provided residents with alternative housing, apart from a few blocks in the 6th of October city. This is an issue which NDP candidates use in their own favour.
In a show of support, Prime Minister Atef Ebeid attended one of the NDP rallies in Meit Oqba and told the crowd that the government is allocating LE25 million in compensations and that Osman will be in charge. And yet some constituents remained sceptical.
"I don't really think they deserve our votes; these are only promises. But to whom should we now turn?" asked one resident.
Related stories:
A new page for the Brotherhood?
Against the odds 2 - 8 November 2000
Election surprises defy pundits 26 Oct. - 1 Nov. 2000
Poll tough on Islamists 19 - 25 October 2000
The Brothers' last sigh? 5 - 11 October 2000
See Elections 2000
© Copyright Al-Ahram Weekly. All rights reserved
