Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi is at the center of tit-for-tat petitions seeking to highlight criticism and support for his Muslim Brotherhood-linked administration. A petition circulated by opponents has reportedly garnered over two million signatures. It comes amid polls showing that support for Morsi had all but cratered in March and then continued to decline in April.

Mursi supporters have launched a Tajarud (Impartial) petition following calls by Al-Gama’a Al-Islamiyya leader Assem Abdul-Majid. This battle of the petitions comes in the week that an independent public opinion research center revealed that just 100 days into the job, his popularity had decreased to 30%.

The Tamarod campaign is seeking to “forment rebellion against the Muslim Brotherhood” and withdraw confidence from President Mursi, claiming that he has failed the revolution that brought him to power. This campaign is seeking to collect 15 million signatures in support of a vote of no confidence in Mursi; this would outnumber the 13.2 million votes he received to become president last year.

Polls also show, however, that the Muslim Brotherhood faces no viable electoral competitor, risking a dynamic under which Egypt may become roiled by long-term political dissatisfaction. Islamists have responded to the petition criticizing Morsi with their own counter-petition designed to demonstrate support for the president.

[Photo: english.ahram.org]