EGYPT MEDIA SUMMARY- 9 JANUARY 2021
INTERNAL AFFAIRS:
-[Kidnapped] Egyptian sailors return home after rescue, Ministry of Foreign Affairs comments: Protecting our citizens is a priority as directed by the political leadership [COMMENT: The Egyptian state has been lately trying to emphasize the regime’s image as merciful and supportive of the public, this comes amid the regime’s fears that US President Elect Biden may establish Obama’s policy of antagonizing president Sisi and empowering the Muslim Brotherhood. END COMMENT] Sources: AlAhram, Almasry Alyoum,
RESPONSE TO US ELECTIONS:
-[COMMENT: While not fully attacking Trump, the state-controlled Egyptian media is walking a tight line between welcoming Biden fully and demonizing Trump, while doing its best to claim that Western democracies are not real. END COMMENT]
-Al-Ahram: Canadian Prime Minister: Washington [DC] Events Are an Attack on Democracy; report quotes the Trudeau as saying: “Democracy is not for granted. What happened there could happen here”.
-Almasry Alyoum: “The Scenarios of Accountability: Will We See Trump Behind Bars?”. The private, somewhat less-government controlled, daily reports on scenarios of indictments and trial of President Trump after he leaves office. Th paper provides a somewhat thorough analysis that is impartial; without taking sides.
-AlAhram writer Abdel Muhssein Salamah’s piece entitled “Democracies of the 21st Century”, argues that there is no heaven on earth when it comes to democracies and very democracy varies depending on the time, he compares Trump’s victory in 2016 to that of the rise of fascism in Europe.
-Almasry Alyoum’s writer Tariq Abbas writes: “Tramp and Sour Grapes”, the author, who is theoretically considered to be against the Egyptian regime, chastises Trump for attempts to “undermine” American democracy and “acting like third world dictators”.
-Almesryoon’s writer, Farraj Ismael, describes Trump as acting “As if he is a leader of a terror group, ordering his followers to attack the Congress and they just do”. [Comment: Author and paper are considered secular oppositionist, nonetheless, it is clear the Egyptian regime is struggling between letting go of Trump and endorsing Biden, hence it’s allowing its private media to attack Trump, but not its official media, all exhibiting the uncertainty and reluctance the Egyptian regime had been approaching the US elections matter with. END COMMENT]