Egyptians began voting on Sunday in a presidential election set to hand Abdel Fattah al-Sisi a third term in power, as the country grapples with an economic crisis and a war on its border with Gaza.
The election, which runs from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. (0700-1900 GMT) over three days, has been overshadowed by the escalating conflict between Israel and Gaza’s Hamas rulers, which has killed more than 200 people and displaced thousands.
Sisi, who led the 2013 ousting of Egypt’s first democratically elected president, Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood, has presented himself as a bulwark of stability and security in a turbulent region.
But he has also faced criticism for a crackdown on dissent that has jailed tens of thousands of people, as well as for his handling of the economy, which has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic and rising inflation.
Sisi’s Challengers
According to a report by Reuters, three candidates qualified to stand against Sisi in the election, none of them high-profile figures. The most prominent potential challenger halted his run in October, saying officials and thugs had targeted his supporters – accusations dismissed by the national election authority.
The remaining contenders are: Ahmed al-Sisi, a former army officer and cousin of the president; Amr Moussa, a veteran diplomat and former foreign minister; and Hamdeen Sabahi, a leftist politician and former presidential candidate.
None of them are expected to pose a serious threat to Sisi, who won the previous two elections with 97% of the vote.
Voters’ Concerns
Many voters said they were more concerned about their daily struggles than the political outcome of the election.
“We are voting for him (Sisi), but we want him to bring down the prices. Food, medicine, rent… it’s all very expensive,” said Sabreen Khalifa, a 40-year-old mother of five in Giza.
Some also expressed fear that the violence in Gaza could spill over into Egypt, which shares a border with the Palestinian enclave and has mediated several ceasefires between Israel and Hamas in the past.
“Sisi secured our area for us. We have seen the most blood spilled, the least we can do is vote for him,” said Leila Awad, a local education ministry official in Al Arish in northern Sinai, where the military has battled Islamist militants.
What’s next?
The results of the election are due to be announced on Dec. 18. If Sisi wins a new six-year term, his immediate priorities would be taming near-record inflation, managing a chronic foreign currency shortage and preventing spillover from the conflict in Gaza.
He may also face pressure to implement more reforms under a $3 billion loan programme from the International Monetary Fund, which has been stalled by delays in asset sales and a shift to a more flexible exchange rate.
Some analysts say the election, originally expected in early 2024, was brought forward so that economic changes could be implemented afterwards.
But despite the challenges, Sisi still enjoys support from many Egyptians who see him as a strong leader who can restore stability and security after years of turmoil following the 2011 uprising that toppled longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak.
“I will vote for Sisi of course. I love him,” said Nabia Ahmed, a 65-year-old mother of four in Cairo. “I always vote for presidents. I am voting because I want security for my children.”
