June 30 Revolution
The June 30 Revolution is a national holiday observed annually in Egypt on June 30th, marking the anniversary of the protests against President Morsi in 2013. On that date, 14 million protesters demonstrated across Egypt, and these protests eventually led to a military coup on July 3rd that removed Morsi from power.
Egypt (National holiday)Since this is a public holiday, it is a day off for the general public, and many businesses are closed for the day. It is also a time when people take their vacations, and many employers give their employees paid vacation time on this day. This holiday should not be confused with Revolution Day, which falls on July 23rd and marks the anniversary of the Egyptian Revolution in 1952.
The History of the June 30 Revolution
In Egypt in 2011, President Mubarak resigned after mass demonstrations ended his nearly three-decade rule in the country. This led to the first democratic presidential elections in 2012, and Mohamed Morsi became the first democratically elected Egyptian president.
In November of that year, Morsi made a constitutional declaration that increased the powers he enjoyed. He did this to end a political stalemate, but the move turned out to be extremely unpopular with the general population. Coupled with economic issues plaguing the country, as well as energy shortages, this move led to widespread resentment across the country—a resentment that would end up boiling over.
This resentment against the Egyptian President came to a head on June 30, 2013, when 14 million protesters demonstrated against him. On July 3rd, these demonstrations led to a military coup that removed Morsi from power.
Observing the June 30 Revolution in Egypt
This holiday is observed with much pomp and circumstance. The holiday is marked with concerts, military parades, and political speeches. It is also a day on which Egyptians take time to spend with their friends and family members.
Egypt (National holiday)
