Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has announced that he would
run for a third term in the next election in December, according to Al Jazeera.
El-Sisi is largely predicted to win the election at a time when the
middle-eastern country is dealing with an economic crisis, record inflation,
and a dramatic depreciation of the local currency.
“I have decided to nominate myself to complete the dream during a
new presidential term,” said el-Sisi, making the announcement during a
televised speech on Monday, according to Al Jazeera.
“I call on all Egyptians to participate in this democratic scene to
choose with their patriotic conscience who is worthy,” he said.
An estimated 65 million Egyptians are reported to be eligible to
vote in the election, which will be held over three days from December 10 to
12. Egyptians living abroad will be able to cast their ballots on December 1-3.
A few politicians have already declared their candidatures for
presidency, but none of them offer a real threat to el-Sisi, who has been in
power since 2014.
Ahmed al-Tantawi’s campaign, who is the most well-known possible
challenger to el-Sisi and a former Member of Parliament, has stated that voters
were prevented from endorsing him, according to Al Jazeera.
To run for office, prospective candidates require 25,000 public
signatures or the backing of 20 lawmakers in a parliament that is
overwhelmingly pro-Sisi.
El-Sisi, a former army chief who has been President since 2014, had
been widely expected to run again and secure a third term after constitutional
amendments four years ago that would allow him to stay in office until 2030.
In recent weeks supporters have mounted a campaign using billboards
and public messages urging El-Sisi to stand reported Arab News.
El-Sisi came to power after leading the ousting of Muhammad Morsi
of the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013. He was announced winner of presidential
elections in 2014 and 2018 with 97 per cent of the vote.
ANI
