Third Term
Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has secured a third, six-year term as Egypt’s president with a resounding victory, capturing 89.6% of the votes in an election where he faced no significant challengers, as announced by the National Election Authority on Monday.
The election occurred against the backdrop of Egypt grappling with a lingering economic crisis and navigating the potential spillover effects from the conflict in Gaza, bordering Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. The eruption of violence in Gaza reportedly influenced some voters to support Sisi, who has positioned himself as a stabilizing force in a region marked by volatility.
Voting transpired over three days from December 10-12, with state-controlled media and authorities making concerted efforts to boost voter turnout. The election authority reported a turnout of 66.8%, exceeding the 41% recorded in the previous presidential election in 2018. While three other candidates participated, none held high-profile status, and a notable potential contender withdrew in October, citing alleged targeting of his supporters.
Critics, including Hossam Bahgat of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, decried the lack of genuine competition, asserting that Sisi utilized state resources to prevent serious contenders. The election results reinforced concerns about the absence of political pluralism, with accusations of handpicked opponents offering minimal criticism of the president’s policies.
Sisi, a former general, has overseen a crackdown on dissent since leading the overthrow of Egypt’s first democratically elected leader, Mohamed Mursi, in 2013. Despite economic challenges and rising prices, some admire Sisi for infrastructure initiatives, including a new capital, while others view such projects as extravagant.
The constitutional amendment in 2019 extended the presidential term to six years and allowed Sisi to seek a third term. Supporters emphasize the importance of security, while critics cite human rights concerns and view cosmetic gestures, such as opening a national dialogue and releasing select prisoners, as insufficient.
Reports of inducements, such as distributing basic commodities and financial incentives, raised questions about the fairness of the election, and authorities emphasized that such practices were criminal offenses. The perceived predictability of the outcome left many Egyptians indifferent to the election, reinforcing the need for broader political engagement and genuine competition in future electoral processes.
