'Are you with us or against us?': media lather over poor turnout
Following on from MEE's earlier article about the media storm surrounding low voter turnout in Egypt, we have a translation below of some choice quotes from anchors telling Egyptians to get out and get their fingers inky in the ballot box.
00:00 - Every company manager…if you are willing to go and vote, he has a right to see your finger [to ensure you have an ink-stained finger from voting]
00:12 - “We are expressing our happiness at this celebration of democracy”. The celebration of democracy can go to hell! Where are the people?!
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00:25 – I’m willing to slit my wrists for this country! Right now live in front of you. So that people go out and vote.
00:35 – What do you want?! I will kiss the feet of your ancestors. What do you want?!!
00:43 – Are you with us or against us?
00:45 – This is a nation that is addicted to getting kicked in the arse.
00:49 – Abdul Fattah al-Sisi’s campaign has no political body [behind it].
00:57 – Political participation in cities, and especially in Upper Egypt, is almost at 10 percent.
01:07 – It has been revealed completely that Sisi’s campaign has no electoral mechanisms, and no political body of support
01:16 – I’m asking a question honestly and clearly: when the General called on people to go down into the streets on 24 July, nearly 40 million did. What happened [this time]?
01:40 – People are lounging around, reposing, enjoying their ceiling fans, in their white jallabiyyas. They can’t be bothered, they have their air conditioning on. I swear, I’ll get them to switch off the electricity in every house, so the AC doesn’t work! Then people will be out on the streets!
02:14 – The scene that is transpiring in front of the polling stations is not what we [the media] desired…
02:23 – First Presenter: How terrible would it be if [an Egyptian woman] took the day off, went to the market to buy some vegetables and came home to cook them [without casting her vote].
Second Presenter: She should be shot! She should shoot herself! [gesturing at his head as if to shoot himself]
02:32 – Completely empty space…completely [in reference to the polling stations]
02:41 – And the media, I’m sorry to say, are not very smart or enlightened!
02:46 – Whether you want to vote for Sisi, or for Sabahi – just show me your finger afterwards.
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