© Reuters. A poll is seen as election officers depend them inside a faculty used as a polling station and a counting centre, through the presidential election in Cairo, Egypt, December 12, 2023. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany/File Photograph
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By Farah Saafan
CAIRO (Reuters) -Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has swept to a 3rd time period as Egypt’s president in an election the place he confronted no severe challengers, election authorities stated on Monday, and he referred to as the vote a rejection of the “inhumane war” in neighbouring Gaza.
The election, through which he took 89.6% of the vote based on the Nationwide Election Authority, was held as Egypt struggles with a slow-burning financial disaster and tries to handle the danger of spillover from the conflict adjoining to Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.
Some voters stated the eruption of battle in Gaza had inspired them to vote for Sisi, who has lengthy introduced himself as a bulwark of stability in a risky area – an argument that has additionally proved efficient with Gulf and Western allies offering monetary assist to his authorities.
“Egyptians lined up to vote not just to choose their president for the next term, but to express their rejection of this inhumane war to the entire world,” Sisi stated in a speech quickly after the outcomes had been introduced.
He stated Egypt needed to do all it may to cease the conflict between Israel and Gaza’s ruling Palestinian Islamist motion Hamas, describing it as his nation’s major problem.
Israel’s heavy bombardment and invasion of the Gaza Strip, after an Hamas assault into Israel, has flattened a lot of the enclave and left most of its folks homeless. Egypt has warned it is not going to enable any cross-border exodus of Gazans.
Voting in Egypt was held on Dec. 10-12, with the state and tightly managed home media pushing onerous to spice up turnout, which the election authority stated had reached 66.8% – above the 41% recorded on the final presidential election in 2018.
The election featured three different candidates, none of them excessive profile. Probably the most distinguished potential challenger halted his run in October, saying officers and thugs had focused his supporters – accusations dismissed by the election Authority.
“There were no elections, Sisi used the entire state apparatus and security agencies to prevent any serious contender from even running,” stated Hossam Bahgat, head of the Egyptian Initiative for Private Rights (EIPR), an unbiased group.
“Just like last time he handpicked his opponents who only went through the motions of running against the president with either muted or almost no criticism of his disastrous policies.”
Egypt’s state media physique stated the vote was a step in direction of political pluralism and authorities have denied violations of electoral guidelines.
Many individuals within the Arab world’s most populous nation expressed indifference concerning the election, saying the outcome was a foregone conclusion.
Reuters reporters witnessed voters being bussed into some polling stations and luggage of meals being handed out, whereas some voters stated they had been provided monetary incentives. The state media physique stated any provision of cash or items in return for votes was a felony offence.
CONSTITUTION AMENDED
Sisi, a former basic, has overseen a sweeping crackdown on dissent throughout the political spectrum since main the 2013 overthrow of Egypt’s first democratically elected chief, Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood.
He was elected to the presidency in 2014, and re-elected in 2018, each occasions with 97% of the vote. The structure was amended in 2019, extending the presidential time period to 6 years from 4, and permitting Sisi to face for a 3rd time period.
Some admire an infrastructure drive together with a brand new capital constructed from scratch within the desert east of Cairo. Others see the town as a expensive extravagance at a time when Egypt’s debt has swollen and costs have soared.
“I renew my pact with you, to together exert every effort to continue building the new republic, that we hope to erect according to a shared vision,” Sisi stated in a taped speech aired on state tv with little fanfare.
Sisi’s backers say safety is paramount, and that some teams have benefited below his rule.
That included ladies, although there may be extra to be performed, stated Nourhan ElAbbassy, assistant secretary-general of the youth department of the pro-Sisi Homat AlWatan get together.
“We would love to see more females in key positions, more female ministers in the cabinet as long as they’re qualified, and revisions of personal rights laws that have to do with issues like marriage, divorce and alimony,” she stated.
Authorities have sought to handle criticism of Egypt’s human rights document with steps together with opening a nationwide dialogue and releasing some distinguished prisoners. Critics have dismissed the strikes as largely beauty.
In his speech, Sisi stated the dialogue would proceed “more effectively and efficiently”.
