Sisi looms large over Egypt vote

Egyptians begin voting on Oct. 18 for a parliament expected to step firmly in line behind President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who has crushed all opposition since ousting his Islamist predecessor in 2013.

The much-delayed election -- the previous assembly was dissolved in June 2012 -- will be in two phases between October 18 and December 2.
 
Former army chief Sisi won the 2014 presidential election despite having no political party of his own, and insists he has no political allies.
 
But experts say most of the more than 5,000 candidates overwhelmingly back him.
 
"They will not oppose President Sisi's policies. They want to stay close to him as he is at the heart of the regime," said Mustapha Kamel al-Sayyid, professor of political science at Cairo University.
 
Political expert Hazem Hosny agreed: "This parliament will be a parliament of the president.
 
"It's really a parliament... to keep things as they are, to give an image of democracy," he said.
 
The turnout at a recent campaign rally in Qena south of Cairo highlighted the popular mood.
 
Many Egyptians tired of political turmoil since the 2011 ouster of veteran leader Hosni Mubarak support Sisi, who has vowed to restore stability amid a deadly crackdown targeting supporters of Mubarak's successor.
 
Sisi has urged a large turnout, saying that "active participation of all segments of the society is important for the election", a presidency statement said on Oct. 13.
 
While still army chief, Sisi toppled the Islamist Mohamed Morsi -- Egypt's first freely elected leader -- on July 3, 2013 after mass street protests against his divisive year-long rule.
 
An ensuing government crackdown targeting Morsi's...