CAIRO: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has secured a third term in office with an overwhelming 89.6% of the vote, according to the national election authority’s announcement on Monday. The election, held from December 10-12, saw Sisi facing a field of relatively unknown candidates.
Despite challenges such as a painful economic crisis marked by a currency plunge, high household prices, and regional tensions from the Gaza conflict, Sisi’s win was decisive. The 69-year-old president’s third term, as stipulated by the Egyptian constitution, is set to begin in April and will run for six years.
This victory follows a decade-long crackdown on dissent, limiting serious competition for Sisi. The economic crisis has been characterized by an annual inflation rate of 36.4%, impacting the cost of essential goods and straining household budgets.
Political Situation in Egypt Under Sisi’s Administration
Sisi’s administration has overseen the imprisonment of tens of thousands of political opponents. The opposition, though showing some momentum earlier this year, faced significant challenges, with many key figures either in prison or awaiting trial.
Hazem Omar, the leader of the Republican People’s Party, emerged as the runner-up with 4.5% of the vote. The election authority reported an “unprecedented” turnout of 66.8% of the 67 million registered voters, a significant increase from previous years.
Sisi, a retired army field marshal, first assumed the presidency in 2014 after leading the overthrow of elected President Mohamed Morsi in 2013. His popularity, once dubbed “Sisimania,” has waned, but he remains a polarizing figure, credited by supporters for restoring public order after a period of political violence and chaos.
