Egypt’s President Al-Sisi re-elected for third term

His election victory was already considered certain in advance: Egypt’s President Al-Sisi was confirmed in office with almost 90 percent of the vote. The former general can now rule until 2030.

In the presidential election in Egypt, head of state Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was re-elected with a large majority. Al-Sisi received 89.6 percent of the vote, the electoral authority said. The 69-year-old secured a third term in office and can rule the country for another six years.

None of the three opposing candidates received five percent of the votes cast. Overall, the election went smoothly, said the chairman of the electoral authority, Hasim Badawi. “There were no violations or irregularities that disrupted the electoral process.”

“Hand-picked opponents”

According to critics, there have been no free elections in the country since Al-Sisi came to power in 2013 and any serious opposition has been almost completely stifled. “Al-Sisi used the entire state apparatus and security agencies to prevent a serious candidate from even running,” said civil rights activist Hossam Bahgat.

“Like last time, he has hand-picked his opponents who are only running to appear to be running against the president and who do not criticize his disastrous policies or only criticize them very cautiously,” explained the head of the non-governmental “Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights.”

In 2019, Al-Sisi secured a longer term

Criticism of Al-Sisi has increased because of the tense economic situation. However, the Gaza war determined the formation of public opinion, from which, according to observers, the president benefited because he is seen as a guarantor of stability. His supporters emphasize that the former general ensured more security in the country.

In 2013, al-Sisi, as commander-in-chief of the army, overthrew Egypt’s first democratically elected president, Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood. He took over the presidency for the first time in 2014. In 2019, he pushed through a constitutional change that extended the presidential term from four to six years and allowed Al-Sisi to run for a third term.