A group of Egyptian politicians has issued rare criticisms of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, stating that they are considering challenging him in the upcoming elections, contingent on the fate of imprisoned leader Hisham Qassem. The Free Current movement was formed this summer by a coalition of opposing liberal groups and figures who claim that their main issue is the country's economic decline.
Qassem, the founder of the movement, was imprisoned last week on charges of defamation and verbal assault and will remain in jail until his trial begins on September 2. Members of his coalition described his arrest as politically motivated and stated that they would decide on participating in the elections based on developments in his case, as well as guarantees for free elections.
While the coalition is not seen as a significant threat to Sisi, who is expected to run for a third term in early next year's elections following constitutional amendments, their criticisms of the government are uncommon. Businessman and politician Akmal Qartam stated that they need change, a new president, and a new government, as well as a new parliament to bring Egypt back to "the current of modernity."
The sharp decline in the value of the Egyptian pound and rising inflation to record levels have caused discontent among Egyptians, which has recently been exacerbated by ongoing power outages. The government has attempted to address issues of freedoms and human rights in recent years through measures such as initiating a national dialogue with civil society leaders and releasing prominent prisoners. Critics have dismissed these measures as cosmetic, saying that arrests continue.
