Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi secured a landslide victory on Monday, winning about 89.6% of the vote, a figure that stands in contrast to the 97% tally reported in 2018. The result paves the way for another six years of leadership under Sisi.
In his post-win remarks, Sisi vowed to continue building what he terms a “new republic” as Egyptians confront significant challenges, including the ongoing effects of a deep economic crisis and the war in the Gaza Strip.
“Highest participation percentage in history.”
The head of Egypt’s National Electoral Authority, Hazem Badawi, announced in a crowded venue that Sisi received 39,702,451 votes, which represented 89.6% of valid ballots and drew strong applause from attendees.
Badawi stated that turnout reached 66.8% of registered voters, amounting to 44,777,668 people out of 67,032,438 eligible voters. This level of engagement was a major point of emphasis for officials, especially since participation had been only 41% in the 2018 elections.
Invalid votes accounted for 1.1% of registered ballots. The ANE president noted that voters from all segments of society took part in the elections and asserted that no violations occurred.
He highlighted that election spending was at its lowest level in history and stressed the neutrality of the process.
In 2017, Sisi had affirmed that his tenure would be limited to two terms. However, a controversial constitutional reform passed in 2019 enabled him to extend his presidency through 2030, initially signaling that he would not be eligible to participate in further elections.
El Sisi’s rivals are unknown
The elections marked the first since Sisi took power in 2014. Four candidates from varied backgrounds contested the vote, but opponents were largely unfamiliar to the wider public.
The second-highest vote-getter was Hazim Omer of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), who garnered 1,986,352 votes (4.5%). Farid Zahran, head of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party, finished with 1,776,952 votes (4%). Abdul Sanad Yamama, leader of the Wafd Party, received 822,606 votes (1.9%).
Even though officials reported no violations, observer teams aligned with Sisi’s opponents alleged that some parties connected to the president engaged in practices described as bribery with money and food at polling sites, among other irregularities previously noted in past elections.
El Sisi’s challenges
The electoral landscape reflected concerns about potential displacement of Gaza’s Palestinians toward Egypt, but it also highlighted widespread dissatisfaction stemming from the country’s severe economic woes, including double-digit inflation and the depreciation of the Egyptian pound by more than half in value.
These elections were originally planned for 2024 but were advanced in response to the difficult economic measures the government anticipated to implement to meet IMF requirements and stabilize the economy.
Regarding the Gaza conflict, in which Egypt acted as a mediator along with Qatar and the United States, Sisi stated that the Egyptian people voted not only for him but also in support of the Palestinian cause during the elections.
He expressed appreciation for everyone who participated in the event and acknowledged the ongoing war on Egypt’s eastern borders, asserting that efforts would continue to prevent further escalation. He argued that the conflict poses a threat to Egypt’s national security and to the Palestinian cause more broadly.
He noted that Egyptians who lined up to vote were signaling not just consent to a new mandate, but a clear stance to the world in rejection of a humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region.
—End of article—[citation: EFE, 2024]