Egypt: The political process between ‘opening up’ and ‘control’

This report by the Institute for Security Studies assesses the political process in Egypt around 2008, focusing on the tension between government-led 'opening up' and continued state control. Using the April 2008 municipal elections as a starting point, the author examines political reforms since 2002, the human rights situation, press freedom, and the socio-economic pressures caused by rising food prices.

• The municipal elections held on 8 April 2008 were characterized by a dominant victory for the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP), which won 97 per cent of the votes. The NDP fielded a candidate for every single seat (53,000), resulting in 80 per cent of seats being won unopposed. Opposition parties, which stood for only five per cent of total seats, alleged intimidation and registration barriers, while the Muslim Brotherhood boycotted the polls.
• Voter turnout for the 2008 municipal elections was exceptionally low, with the Maat Centre for Juridical and Constitutional Studies estimating it between one per cent in cities and five per cent in some villages. This apathy is attributed to the highly centralized nature of Egyptian politics, a difficult socio-political environment, and a lack of belief among citizens that local councillors could alleviate their plight.
• Political reforms initiated around 2005, including the amendment of Article 76 of the Constitution to allow multi-candidate presidential elections, are viewed by some as genuine progress and by others as 'minimalism' to deflect international pressure. The report suggests these reforms were partly a response to US pressure to democratize the Middle East prior to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and that the state has since reversed some of these gains as that external pressure waned.
• The National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) reported serious human rights abuses in 2007, specifically highlighting acts of torture in police stations and detention centres that resulted in some deaths. The NCHR also discovered unregistered detainees and torture instruments during a surprise visit to the Al-Muntazah police station in Alexandria.
• There is significant concern regarding the replacement of the emergency law (in place since 1981) with new anti-terrorism legislation. Critics, including the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), argue the new law uses vague language that could sustain abusive arrest and detention policies and undermine the prohibition against torture.
• The Egyptian government has faced accusations of cracking down on the free press, exemplified by the September 2007 sentencing of four independent newspaper editors to one year in prison for publishing false information. While President Mubarak claimed he is committed to freedom of expression, organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch describe these actions as a series of attacks on the free press.
• Egypt experienced significant social unrest in early 2008 due to the rising cost of basic commodities, particularly bread (aish), driven by global food price increases and a heavy reliance on wheat imports (estimated at 47 to 56 per cent of domestic consumption). This led to strikes, including a general strike on 6 April.
• To address the economic crisis and prevent rebellion among state employees, President Mubarak promised a 30 per cent salary increase for public sector employees. To fund this, the government proposed raising £E24 billion through measures such as increasing petrol prices, reducing subsidies, and ending tax breaks for energy-intensive heavy industries.

APA

Souaré, I. K. (2008). Egypt: The political process between ‘opening up’ and ‘control’. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/EGYPT 23-6-08.PDF

Chicago

Souaré, Issaka K. Egypt: The political process between ‘opening up’ and ‘control’. Institute for Security Studies, 2008. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/EGYPT 23-6-08.PDF.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Souaré |first1=Issaka K. |title=Egypt: The political process between ‘opening up’ and ‘control’ |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=23 June 2008 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/EGYPT 23-6-08.PDF |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{souar2008egypt, author = {Souaré, Issaka K.}, title = {{Egypt: The political process between ‘opening up’ and ‘control’}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2008}, month = jun, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/EGYPT 23-6-08.PDF}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }