Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi clinched a resounding victory, securing a third term as the leader of the most populous nation in the Middle East.
The National Elections Authority declared Sisi the winner on Monday, with an overwhelming 89.6% of the vote in an election conducted from December 10 to 12. This election saw an unprecedented turnout of 66.8%.
More than 39 million Egyptians showed their support for Sisi, a former army chief who has steered the nation for a decade. Despite significant challenges like the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza and a severe economic crisis, the election’s outcome was widely expected.
The lack of substantial opposition stems from a sustained crackdown on dissent over the past ten years, consolidating Sisi’s prominence. He competed against three other candidates in the election, none of whom held high-profile positions.
Hazem Omar of the Republican People’s Party emerged as the runner-up, securing only 4.5% of the vote, while other contenders received minimal backing.
Sisi’s win signifies a continuation of his firm grip on power since assuming office following the 2013 overthrow of Egypt’s first democratically elected president, Mohamed Morsi. He was re-elected in 2018 with overwhelming support in both prior elections, winning by 97%.
During Sisi’s tenure, constitutional amendments extended the presidential term from four to six years and increased the limit on consecutive terms from two to three.
Despite facing criticism and allegations of human rights abuses, Sisi’s supporters commend him for restoring stability after the turbulence that ensued post the 2011 uprising against President Hosni Mubarak.
(Islamabad51_Newsdesk)
