Egyptians vote in snap referendum on keeping Sisi in power
Posted by The Editor on April 20, 2019 11:56 am
Tags: Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, Africa, Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, Middle East and North Africa, World news
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Banners line streets of Cairo telling citizens to vote to extend presidency
Polling stations across Cairo filled with voters as Egyptians voted in a snap referendum expected to allow President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi to remain in power until 2030. Six people told the Guardian that they had been bussed to the polls from working-class areas, and given bags of food in exchange for their vote.
Amid a subdued atmosphere on the streets of downtown Cairo, banners lined the streets telling citizens to vote to confirm the changes. A lone banner from the Egyptian Conservative party hung above one central square, stating that it “rejected the constitutional amendments,” which also increased Sisi’s control over the judiciary and expanded the military’s role in politics.