Jump to navigation

Egypt

A stroll for Sisi

The president looks set for a smooth path to victory after suppressing any meaningful opposition – a course he is expected to maintain in a third term

A decade-long crackdown on political dissent has eliminated any serious opposition to President Abdel Fattah el Sisi, who is almost certain to secure a third six-year term in power following three days of voting between 10-12 December.

The main question is how low voter turnout will fall in polls that are overshadowed by a crippling economic crisis – which has caused extreme hardship and provoked widespread, if discreet, criticism – and the war in Gaza.

Inflation has hovered near 40% after the currency lost half its value and drove up the cost of imports, meaning the economy is the crux of Egyptians' concerns (AC Vol 64 No 7, El Sisi's grip weakens as economic pressures mount).

The three candidates allowed to share the ballot paper with Sisi are all relative unknowns: Farid Zahran, leader of the left-leaning Egyptian Social Democratic Party; Abdel-Sanad Yamama, from the Wafd, a century-old but relatively marginal party; and Hazem Omar, from the Republican People's Party.

The three held a televised debate but Sisi did not attend and sent an MP in his place.

Having used the military, police and general intelligence service to consolidate his rule, insiders expect that Sisi will make increasing use of the civilian paramilitary force Falcon Group, Egypt's most prominent security company which has close links to the regime and intelligence services, to maintain control in his third term (AC Vol 64 No 23, Into the arms of Abdel Fattah el Sisi).



Related Articles

Into the arms of Abdel Fattah el Sisi

The likelihood that the Israel-Hamas war will trigger a refugee crisis has pushed Brussels to strike a migration deal with Cairo

Fears that a full-scale ground invasion of Gaza by the Israel Defense Forces will create tens of thousands of refugees have prompted the European Union to reorganise its...


Ambushing the revolution

Oppositionists want sweeping constitutional change; the military wants quick fixes to the old constitution, then fresh elections

Political tension is rising again over the military’s plans to hold constitutional and presidential elections within six months, a move which would benefit mainly the formerly ruling National...


Rows in the echo chamber

The newly elected House of Representatives is meant to rubber stamp the actions of the presidency but is by no means united 

On 12 January 2015, in the run-up to Egypt's parliamentary elections, President Abdel Fatah el Sisi invited the heads of 15 of the newly formed political parties to...


Cairo's gas export boom hits obstacles

With Europe's sanctions on Russian gas, Cairo has been boosting LNG exports to fill the gap but questions are mounting about sustainability

Increased revenue from exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) have been a rare bright spot in Egypt's otherwise dismal economic performance over the past two years. The government...