Artists Make Remarkable Impact in Egyptian Presidential Elections

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi speaks while meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, at Al-Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo, Oct. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)
Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi speaks while meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, at Al-Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo, Oct. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)
TT
20

Artists Make Remarkable Impact in Egyptian Presidential Elections

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi speaks while meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, at Al-Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo, Oct. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)
Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi speaks while meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, at Al-Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo, Oct. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)

Egyptian artists showed support to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi during the presidential elections that concluded on Tuesday night.

A large number of artists backed Sisi since he announced his plans to run for another term in early October. Among those are Karim Abdelaziz, Ahmed el-Sakka, Nelly Karim and Salah Abdullah. Others showed their support in short videos that were shared on his campaign’s Facebook page, including Yasser Galal, who played the role of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in “The Choice” series.

“Artists’ support of President Sisi and his reelection reflect the stance of the majority of the Egyptian people,” said Ehab Fahmy, vice president of the Syndicate of Acting Professions. He told “Asharq Al-Awsat” that his colleagues’ support of President Sisi stems from their observation of “the achievements he has accomplished and their will to see him continue.”

Egyptian artists have played a growing role in the political landscape since the January 25 uprising in 2011; their participation in the protest at the ministry of culture alongside intellects and academics on June 30, 2013, helped overthrow the rule of the Muslim Brotherhood; they have also had remarkable contributions in the different elections and referendums since then.

Many artists boasted their support of the president during the elections including Wafaa Amer, who confirmed that she voted to “the one who has loved Egypt and lifted it since 2010”, in reference to Sisi; other like Nadia al-Gendy, Nabila Ebeid and Leila Taher said explicitly that they voted for him.

In the recent elections, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi competed with Farid Zahran, head of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party; Abdel Sanad Yamama, head of the Wafd party; and Hazem Omar, head of the Republican Peoples' Party.

Some of the artists who backed president Sisi urged people to vote, including Yousra, who said in a statement that she believes that “one vote can make a difference”, while Laila Elwi called on Egyptian citizens to vote for “the continuity of the path.”

Art critic Majida Khairallah said that artists’ support of president Sisi is a good thing. “They are citizens and have the right to participate in the different political events,” she told Asharq Al-Awsat, adding that “this political participation isn’t limited to Egyptian artists and has been seen among celebrities around the world.”

Egyptian artists are used to taking part in the political life through elections or by contributing to major political developments, like the donations Umm Kulthum made for the benefit of the Egyptian army after the war of 1967. Some were even involved directly in the political work, such as late Hamdi Ahmad, who was elected as a member of the parliament, and Yehia el-Fakharany, who was appointed in the Senate.

The artists’ participation in the elections saw some pitfalls. The cast of “Al Atawla” series, including Ahmed el-Sakka, Salah Abdullah and Bassem Samra had to vote at the Expats Committee in Alexandria because they were in the city to shoot some outdoor scenes.

Actress Lebleba committed a legal violation for voting twice; one at the Egyptian consulate in Jeddah and the other in Al Doqi district.

Ehab Fahmy highlighted that artists were keen to take part in the elections “because they are aware of the importance of this election and the critical circumstances in the region,” noting that he saw the same eagerness among the majority of the Egyptian people.

But Critic Majida Khairallah believes that the most important thing is “for artists to believe in their stance and not using it for personal gains.”



Flower Lovers, Influencers Flock to the Tulip Vistas at an Iconic Dutch Park

Farmers use acrylic cloth for insulation to grow tulips earlier in the season near Lisse, Netherlands, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Farmers use acrylic cloth for insulation to grow tulips earlier in the season near Lisse, Netherlands, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
TT
20

Flower Lovers, Influencers Flock to the Tulip Vistas at an Iconic Dutch Park

Farmers use acrylic cloth for insulation to grow tulips earlier in the season near Lisse, Netherlands, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Farmers use acrylic cloth for insulation to grow tulips earlier in the season near Lisse, Netherlands, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Nestled among tulip fields not far from Amsterdam, the world-famous Keukenhof garden has opened for the spring, welcoming camera-wielding visitors to its increasingly selfie-friendly grounds.

On a sunny day, the paths, park benches and cafes are crowded with tourists taking photos and selfies with one of the Netherlands’ most iconic products — the tulip. Those kinds of pics, posted on social media, are what drew Austrian lawyer Daniel Magnus.

“Whenever you see the kind of pictures which were taken from an influencer, they make something with you. You get a new impression of new locations, traditions, people and so on .... You want also to be there,” Magnus told The Associated Press.

Magnus had just finished taking his own photos on a small boat, staged in one of the park’s canals for visitors to take their own Instagrammable images.

Staff plant and nurture a staggering 7 million flower bulbs to ensure visitors who flock to the Keukenhof from around the world all get to see a vibrant spectacle during the just eight weeks the garden is open.

In recent years, the garden has increasingly catered to the public’s thirst for social media content and created spaces where guests are encouraged to pose.

Selfie spots include flower archways, pink velvet couches and another Dutch classic - oversized wooden clogs.

The Keukenhof’s own social media channels have some suggestions about the best locations and the Dutch tourism board even advises on how to get the perfect tulip selfie.

“Make your image come alive and place the subject of your photo slightly off-centre. This will make your photo look more dynamic,” the Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions says.

The Keukenhof garden’s more than 1 million expected visitors don’t need too much encouragement to snap pics among the tulips, hyacinths, daffodils and myriad other flowers. The blossoms are meticulously handplanted throughout its manicured lawns by a small army of gardeners.

“There’s always something blooming. I think that’s the reason why everyone is happy. There’s also always something to see,” gardener Patrick van Dijk told the AP.

Not everyone is always happy with tourists taking photos. Some flower farmers have put up signs and barriers to deter aspiring influencers from trampling tulips in nearby fields.

Italian tulips Tulip fields have started becoming a popular draw elsewhere in Europe. Dutchman Edwin Koeman, who comes from a family of tulip bulb traders, started growing the flowers after moving to an area north of Milan with his family.

“The land here is good. It’s more the climate which is very different to Holland,” Koeman said in an interview on his field in the small Italian town of Arese. “Here, the winter is a bit shorter, we have more sunshine. But for our work, it’s good because it rains just enough in the winter and in the spring. And now in the spring, most of the time it’s sunny, so people like to come to our field.”

Last year, his field had a record of 50,000 visitors, many enjoying the chance to pick tulips themselves to fill their baskets. They’ve started arriving this year and, on April 1, Viola Guidi was among those picking through Koeman’s field.

“Every year I come here together with my friends, even several times,” she said. “Usually we have to hurry, because the best flowers are all picked within a few weeks. We managed to come close to the opening, a week later. This time it worked out really well for me. It’s beautiful.”

Italy grows 43 million tulips, exporting almost one-third of them, according to Nada Forbici, national coordinator of the Coldiretti floriculture council. Exports are aimed mainly at northern Europe, especially Netherlands, she said.