CAIRO: In a massive show of support, thousands of Egyptians took to the streets of Cairo on Monday, urging President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to declare his candidacy in the upcoming elections. The streets of the capital were filled with convoys of buses carrying Sisi’s image, and patriotic music echoed through the city as banners with the leader’s image appeared across major roads.
Although Sisi has not officially announced his intention to run for a third term, his backers demonstrated their unwavering support for his candidacy. “There is no one better for the future,” said Hassan Afifi, a teacher who brought his students to the rally. “We all came out to support President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for the giant projects he has undertaken.”
Egyptians are set to cast their votes from December 10 to 12, with Sisi widely expected to secure a victory. In the 2014 presidential elections, a year after ousting Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, Sisi won with 96 percent of the vote. In the 2018 elections, he secured a 97-percent victory against one of his own supporters, as prominent candidates were sidelined or arrested.
The atmosphere in Cairo was charged with fervor, with boats on the Nile River carrying sails bearing Sisi’s photo and slogans such as “yes to stability.” State-aligned media outlets have been broadcasting messages of support, and hundreds of people have been seen queuing up at registry offices to submit nominations for Sisi’s candidacy.
Challenges for Sisi in Egypt
However, Sisi faces growing challenges, including a frustrated populace grappling with a severe economic crisis. Inflation has soared to 39.7 percent, and the local currency has lost half its value since March 2022.
Amidst this backdrop, some opposition figures have emerged, albeit in limited numbers, from the decimated opposition. These hopefuls have managed to gather necessary nominations from parliament and various governorates across Egypt. One notable challenger, former parliamentarian Ahmed al-Tantawi, has voiced criticism against Sisi’s rule, rallying popular support despite alleged government interference.
Accusations of repression have marred the election season, with Tantawi, a vocal critic of Sisi, accusing the government of harassment, detentions of his supporters, and phone tapping. A report from the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab has substantiated these claims, revealing a two-year-long phone tapping operation with high confidence, pointing to the Egyptian government’s involvement in the hack.
