Tobacco Sales Expected to Soar During Egypt Elections

Only in Egypt will you find tobacco companies boasting about their expectations of 150LE million in extra sales due to the upcoming parliamentary election campaign.

This news comes via Ahram Online who spoke with  Osama Salama, president of the Giza and Cairo branch of the tobacco traders association, who claims that traditionally parliamentary candidates distribute to tobacco products and drinks in exchange for votes. Tobacco insiders expect to see an 8-10% increase during the campaign period and, coupled with the recent cigarette tax hike, should provide an additional LE112 million in extra tax revenues.

This tradition anywhere else in the democratic world would be considered illegal, however this Egypt, and in this land votes are won not by platforms but handouts.

When Mohammed Morsi won the presidential elections, there were many reports suggesting that they were winning votes by distributing food products like sugar and rice after Friday prayers, going so far as providing transportation and money on election day for their votes.

Needless this tradition needs to be deemed illegal if we ever hope to build a meaningful democracy.