Sisi begins candidacy procedures

Recently resigned Minister of Defense Abdel Fattah al-Sisi underwent a medical examination yesterday as per the elections law, which requires  presidential candidates to be clinically examined to determine their physical competence for the post.

The official Facebook page of Sisi’s presidential campaign announced the news last night with pictures of him in a suit, undergoing an eye exam and sitting with hospital officials and doctors.

The Health Ministry also issued a statement on Tuesday confirming that Sisi has completed his medical exam, adding that the Higher Elections Commission will be responsible for announcing the results, state-owned Al-Ahram reports.

The head of the medical committee responsible for the candidates’ medical checks, Osama al-Hady, also said that candidate Hamdeen Sabbahi has applied to take his medical exam.

Minister of Health Adel al-Adawy has appointed four committees to conduct the exams, with specializations in ophthalmology, psychiatry, surgery and gastroenterology.

The campaign’s official Facebook page also reveals that Sisi is active in other aspects of his campaign. The group shows Sisi meeting with representatives of the Nubian community on Tuesday who offered him their support and discussed his plans to develop Nubia and Upper Egypt.

After months of anticipation, Sisi finally announced last week that he would resign from his military post and run for president. The first stage of the elections has been scheduled to start on May 26.