Title: Egypt to Hold Presidential Vote Despite Economic Crisis
Egypt’s National Elections Authority has recently announced that the country will hold its presidential election on December 10-12. Despite a dire economic situation, the incumbent President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is expected to secure victory. This news comes as no surprise, as el-Sisi has been in power since 2014 and is widely seen as the favorite candidate.
The political landscape in Egypt has undergone significant changes since el-Sisi overthrew the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013. The group has since been designated a “terrorist” organization, further reducing their political influence. While opposition politician Ahmed al-Tantawi has announced his bid to run, he lacks the popular support to pose a significant challenge to el-Sisi’s rule.
Aside from al-Tantawi, other announced candidates include Farid Zahran, Abdel-Sanad Yamama, and Gameela Ismail. However, they too face an uphill battle against the incumbent president, who has consistently enjoyed overwhelming support in past elections.
El-Sisi’s presidency has been marked by a heavy-handed approach towards dissent, resulting in the imprisonment of tens of thousands of individuals without fair trials. This crackdown on opposition voices has drawn criticism from human rights organizations both domestically and internationally.
Despite these domestic issues, the country’s economic situation remains alarming. The Egyptian currency has lost half of its value since March 2022, while inflation has skyrocketed, reaching record highs. These economic woes have taken a heavy toll on the population and will undoubtedly shape the voters’ sentiments during the upcoming election.
El-Sisi has previously been declared the winner of the 2014 and 2018 elections with an astonishing 97 percent of the vote. This year, constitutional amendments in 2019 have paved the way for el-Sisi to stand for a third term, while also extending the length of presidential terms to six years.
The election results are set to be announced on December 23, with the final results, in case of a run-off round, to be disclosed by January 16. As the nation prepares for its presidential election, all eyes turn towards the outcome as Egypt grapples with the complex challenges of political stability and economic recovery.
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