By Milcah Tanimu
In a resounding victory, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has been re-elected for a new six-year term, garnering an overwhelming 89.6 percent of the vote, as declared by the election authority. The voter turnout, described as “unprecedented,” reached 66.8 percent, with over 39 million Egyptians casting their ballots for Sisi, a former army chief who has governed the nation for a decade.
The election, held between December 10 and 12, saw Sisi facing off against three relatively unknown candidates. The runner-up, Hazem Omar of the Republican People’s Party, secured 4.5 percent of the vote. Farid Zahran, leader of the left-leaning Egyptian Social Democratic Party, and Abdel-Sanad Yamama from the Wafd party, a century-old but relatively marginal party, were also contenders.
Sisi’s victory marks his third and final term in accordance with the constitution, set to commence in April. Despite Egypt grappling with its most severe economic crisis and heightened tensions surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, Sisi’s win was anticipated. The nation is currently navigating a currency plunge, soaring inflation at 36.4 percent, and increased prices of essential food items, affecting household budgets. Even before the current economic challenges, a significant portion of Egypt’s nearly 106 million population were already living at or below the poverty line.