President Mansour says the state will not side with either candidate

In an address to the nation on Sunday inviting people to vote in the first round of the presidential elections, scheduled to take place on Monday and Tuesday, interim President Adly Mansour refuted accusations that government institutions have been used to support Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s election bid.

Mansour said during his address on the eve of the elections that the state is keen on having a high turnout that “enriches the political sphere in Egypt,” adding that the presidency and other state institutions “have not and will not direct the vote of any citizen towards one particular choice.”

“Democracy is a continuous and evolving process, it cannot be limited by any means to bringing down oppressive regimes; it has to develop and mature in order for the people to reap the benefits by choosing Egypt’s next president freely and responsibly, mindful of the nation’s great history and glorious civilization and taking into consideration all the problems it is currently facing and all the strategies it needs to build a future,” he said.

The next president will take over from Mansour, who was the head of the Supreme Constitutional Court at the time of Morsi’s removal and was appointed in his place until elections take place, as stated in the constitution.

Several state bodies have announced their preparations for the two-day elections, starting Monday. State-owned Al-Ahram reported that additional conscripts from the military’s special forces have been summoned to help in securing the elections.

According to Al-Ahram, a state of emergency was announced at Cairo Airport, where security was tightened on Sunday in anticipation.

Health Minister Adel Adawy said that a crisis council would be in session throughout the two days of the elections.