El-Sissi Wins Third Term as Egyptian President

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi has secured a third term in office, winning a landslide victory with 89.6% of the vote. The election was marked by the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and an economic crisis in Egypt.

In a landslide victory, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi has secured a third, six-year term in office, according to the National Election Authority. El-Sissi, who has ruled Egypt with an unwavering grip for the past nine years, faced three relatively unknown opponents in the election.

Overwhelming Victory Amidst Regional Turmoil

El-Sissi's victory was marked by a resounding 89.6% of the vote, with a voter turnout of 66.8% out of the 67 million registered voters. Hazem Badawy, the election commission chief, declared the voting percentage as the highest in Egypt's history during a televised news conference.

The election, however, was overshadowed by the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, which borders Egypt's eastern frontier and threatens to escalate into a wider regional crisis. El-Sissi expressed that Egyptians voted to reject this inhumane war, accusing Israel of attempting to push Palestinians from Gaza into Egypt and undermining their demands for statehood.

Economic Challenges and International Scrutiny

Egypt is currently grappling with a severe economic crisis, characterized by soaring monthly inflation above 30%. The Egyptian pound has depreciated by 50% against the dollar over the past 22 months, and approximately one-third of the country's 105 million population lives in poverty, as per official statistics.

As a key Western ally in the region, el-Sissi has faced international criticism for Egypt's human rights record and the harsh suppression of dissent. His rise to power came through a military overthrow of the elected Islamist president, Mohammed Morsi, in 2013, following widespread protests against Morsi's one-year rule.

Constitutional Amendments and Opposition Figures

El-Sissi's first election as president occurred in mid-2014, followed by a reelection in 2018. In 2019, constitutional amendments extended his second term by two years and allowed him to run for a third, six-year term.

The recent election outcome was widely anticipated, as el-Sissi's opponents were relatively marginal political figures with limited visibility during the campaign. Hazem Omar, Farid Zahran, and Abdel-Sanad Yamama secured 4.5%, 4%, and less than 2% of the votes, respectively.

A notable presidential hopeful, Ahmed Altantawy, withdrew from the race after failing to obtain the required signatures from residents to support his candidacy. Altantawy was considered el-Sissi's most credible opposition figure, but he alleged harassment from security agencies against his campaign staff and supporters, preventing him from reaching the voter threshold.

Addressing Economic Woes and External Factors

Ahead of the election, el-Sissi pledged to address Egypt's ailing economy without providing specific details. Experts and economists generally agree that the current crisis stems from years of mismanagement and an unbalanced economy, where private firms struggle against state-owned companies.

The Egyptian economy has also been adversely affected by the global repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which have disrupted global markets.

Economic Reforms and Challenges

In 2016, el-Sissi's government initiated an ambitious reform program backed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). However, the austerity measures associated with the program led to soaring prices, placing a significant burden on ordinary Egyptians.

Last December, the government secured a second IMF deal with the promise of implementing further economic reforms, including a floating exchange rate. This has resulted in increased costs for basic goods, particularly imported items.

Timothy Kaldas, deputy director of the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy in Washington, expressed skepticism about a quick economic recovery. He anticipates persistent high inflation and investor wariness. According to Kaldas, without inclusive growth and investment, Egypt will struggle to achieve stability.

Human Rights Concerns

Under el-Sissi's rule, thousands of government critics have been silenced or imprisoned. While many of these individuals are Islamists, prominent secular activists and opposition figures, including those involved in the 2011 uprising that toppled former president Hosni Mubarak, have also been targeted.