Sisi thanks the nation on state TV following his win

As crowds in Cairo’s Tahrir square and other large squares in Egypt celebrated the Presidential Election Commission’s official announcement that Field Marshal Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is Egypt’s newest president, the president-elect addressed the nation in a short clip aired on state TV.

Sisi said his win was the “due result” of the people’s sacrifice throughout the January 25 and June 30 revolutions and their demands for bread, freedom, and dignity.

He thanked the Egyptian people for presenting an honorable, democratic model, as well as the judges for supervising the transparency of the elections, military and police forces for their efforts to secure the process, and Egyptian media for their “documentation of the electoral process, which allowed citizens to follow the news around the clock.”

He also thanked his opponent in the presidential race, leftist activist Hamdeen Sabbahi for “offering the chance for serious electoral competition,” and said that he was looking forward to witnessing his continuous efforts in the construction of Egypt.

Sisi asked Egyptians to get to work to transform Egypt for a better tomorrow that’s more stable and developed.

Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb congratulated Sisi on winning the race, privately owned Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper reported.

“It’s an overwhelming joy, my happiness is indescribable. People said ‘yes,’ chose their president and took to the streets to express their joy,” said Mehleb.

King Abullah of Saudi Arabia called for a donations conference to assist Egypt in overcoming the economic crisis according to Al-Masry Al-Youm.

Abdullah sent a congratulatory message to Sisi saying, “I tell all our brothers and friends in the world that Egypt is in dire need of our support to be able to come out of this tunnel.”

“I warn those who fall short of this duty today, when they have the means, you will not have a place among us tomorrow if you are in need or are surrounded by crises,” he added.