After three days of voting, Egypt conducted a presidential election that is widely expected to confirm the re-election of the current president and former defense chief Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. The results, due to be announced on the 18th, are anticipated to show the incumbent securing another six-year term.
Analysts note that with limited visible competition among the four candidates, the focus will rest on turnout and the margin of victory, alongside how the Gaza conflict may influence future political dynamics and public sentiment.
The polls occurred amid concerns about potential displacement of Palestinians into Egypt and a broad public unease over a sharp economic downturn, marked by high inflation and a steep decline in the Egyptian pound. These factors frame the electoral climate as much as any campaign rhetoric.
Since taking power after the 2013 coup, the ruling government has grappled with a swelling national debt and large-scale infrastructure investments. The debt landscape has shifted dramatically, rising from roughly $43 billion at the outset to well over $160 billion today, a change many Egyptians attribute to ambitious megaprojects and modernization plans.
Originally scheduled for 2024, the elections were moved forward in response to the government’s handling of the crisis and to align with international financial contingency measures. Some observers suggest the timing reflected a broader strategy to address economic pledges and IMF expectations.
In a street testimonial from a polling station in central Cairo, a 73-year-old voter stated that financial pressures limit any ability to resolve the country’s economic trajectory. Another voter, El Sisi, said that the debt burden remains a heavy obstacle that no single solution seems to easily overcome.
“Unprecedented” turnout
These elections marked the first in which four candidates from distinct segments challenged the incumbent since his rise to power. Officials claimed the path toward democratic transformation included a more pluralistic political scene and enhanced partisan competition.
Yet most candidates outside the president’s inner circle remained largely unfamiliar to the electorate, making voter participation the defining measure of the process and a key signal to authorities. Public appeals to vote were widespread.
Turnout was reported at 45 percent by the National Electoral Authority, surpassing the 2018 turnout of 41 percent, a year in which the president faced a much narrower contest. The 2018 results drew international criticism for perceived irregularities and a lopsided outcome, which opponents and rights groups labeled a farce.
In the days of the current election, observers noted irregularities and allegations of influence tactics by groups aligned with the presidency, including claims of monetary and in-kind incentives offered to voters. Such concerns echoed past elections and continued to shape the narrative around this vote.
“A historic result that Egypt has not witnessed before is expected”, remarked Ahmed Bendari, the executive director of the electoral authority, at a press briefing. He indicated no major complaints or significant irregularities had been reported during the three-day voting window.
Undisputed favorite El Sisi
Since the early years of his presidency, El Sisi has faced constitutional and political questions around term limits. A 2017 pledge capped terms at two, but a 2019 reform extended potential tenure for years beyond that original framework. The electoral arrangements appear designed to accommodate his continued leadership through 2030, with future candidacy still a matter of public debate.
International organizations have criticized the broader climate in Egypt, citing restrictions on dissent and large-scale detentions for political reasons over the past decade. Rights groups estimate thousands have faced political imprisonment under the current administration, a record that continues to shape international perceptions.
Meanwhile, observers note that the war in Gaza has strengthened domestic support for the incumbent among some segments of the population, who view strong national defense as essential. In interviews conducted with voters during the election, many expressed a belief that stable leadership is needed to defend national interests.
“Egypt needs a leader who will defend the country”, said Mahmoud Hasan, a 50-year-old voter near a polling box in Giza.