CAIRO – In anticipation of the first legislative elections since the recent revolution, different political powers and parties have been handing out Ramadan bags to attract voters. The same thing happened in the past, but the difference now is that the pictures of Hosni Mubarak and the slogan of dissolved National Democratic Party, that used to printed on these charitable bags, distributed in poor districts, have disappeared. The Salafists have announced their intention to distribute about a million bags, while the Brotherhood have also been distributing bags, as well as holding fairs in various governorates, at which Ramadan goodies, such as dates, nuts and other foodstuffs, are sold very cheaply. Other political parties are doing the same thing, organised by election candidates in different constituencies. Nabil Abdel-Fattah, a researcher into the affairs of Islamic movements at Al-Ahram Political Studies Centre, agrees that, in the past, the charitable bags were also distributed for political reasons during the holy fasting month. “It wasn't just the NDP, as other parties and independent candidates also gave poor people such bags on religious occasions, especially during Ramadan,” he told Al-Masri Al-Youm daily newspaper. As for the businessmen who distributed these charitable bags during Ramadan, many of them are distributing far fewer this year, because of their difficult financial circumstances in the wake of the revolution. Meanwhile, several big stores are also selling Ramadan bags at low prices, ideal for Egyptian families. This year, they include sugar, oil, macaroni, tomato sauce, tea and flour, ranging in price between LE25 (about $4) and LE70 (around $12). Taher Ali, who works in a supermarket, says that many stores are competing to sell Ramadan bags, which they prepare before the holy fasting month starts, adding that sales of these bags are 25 per cent up compared with last year. The Justice Party, with liberal leanings, is one of those parties busy giving out Ramadan bags to the poor, hoping that they will vote for them. “Our political interests and concern for the future of post-revolution Egypt shouldn't mean neglecting social issues,” says Gihan Shukri, a member of the party responsible for its social activities. She told Sabah el-Khair magazine that their bags this year include clothes and money, not just foodstuffs, denying that the party is exploiting the holy fasting month for political ends. Egypt's Social Democratic Party, which also has liberal leanings, has launched a similar campaign. Professor of Sociology at Ain Shams University, Samiya Khedr notes that using Ramadan charitable bags to influence citizens in the elections harms society. “In Egypt, the candidates only think of poverty and food, which means that the citizens are politically backward,” she says.
