President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi re-elected until 2030

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was officially announced winner of the 2023 presidential elections by the National Elections Authority (NEA) on Monday.

44,777,668 people participated in the elections, said the NEA, or 66.8 percent of those eligible to vote.

At a press conference, the NEA said Sisi won with 89.6 percent of the vote.

In second place was Republican People’s Party head Hazem Omar with 4.5 percent of the vote, followed by Social Democratic Party head Farid Zahran with 4 percent, and Wafd Party head Abdel Sanad Yamama with 1.9 percent. 

Sisi, who has already spent a decade in power after winning the 2014 and 2018 elections with over 90 percent of the vote, is to be sworn in for his third term on April 1, 2024, MP Mohamed al-Badrawy told Mada Masr.

The Cabinet will then submit its resignation, and Sisi will have the choice of appointing a new cabinet, either renewing the mandate of the current government or making ministerial changes, said Badrawy.

According to constitutional limits on reelection, he will not be able to run for reelection in 2030.

In a speech upon his victory, Sisi said that the election took place at a critical time, pointing to the ongoing war on Gaza.

He also spoke of the economic crisis, praising the public for coping with the circumstances.

“As I promised you, I am an Egyptian who grew up in an old Egyptian neighborhood. I belong to the military institution. In my mission, which you have given me, there is only working with you and for you and achieving your hopes and dreams,” Sisi continued.

With a nod to the other candidates who ran for office, Sisi ​​said, “We will continue with the National Dialogue in a more effective and practical way, benefiting from the rich atmosphere that was witnessed in the elections.”

“They [the other candidates] have diverse thoughts, perspectives, and political orientations.”

Omar, Zahran and Yamama joined Sisi’s name on the ballot in 2023’s election cycle, a competitive field in comparison to the forgettable last-minute contestant who ran opposite Sisi in 2018.

Sisi’s 89.6 percent of the vote marks a decrease from his 2014 and 2018 victories with over 90 percent of the vote each time.

Yet Mada Masr correspondents reported that between December 10 and 12, incentives were handed out at polling stations to increase Sisi’s votes. Large crowds were gathered by committees of state-aligned parties, and some were offered cash incentives or basic food items in exchange for votes.

Much of the competition was also eliminated in the initial stages of the election — the presidential campaigns of former MP Ahmed Tantawi and Dostour Party head Gameela Ismail both faced obstruction and security harassment, leading to their withdrawal from the race.

Tantawi and 21 of his campaign members and supporters are still facing trial on allegations of printing and circulating election papers without authorization from the competent authority. At least 132 others were detained on various charges after participating in his campaign.