Egypt’s presidential elections will take place between this Sunday and Tuesday to elect one of four candidates, including the current head of state, in a context of severe economic crisis and repression against opposition leaders.
Abdelfatah al-Sissi, who is considered the favorite for a third six-year term, faces Farid Zahran, leader of Egypt’s Social Democratic Party (PES), Abdel Sanad Yamama, chairman of the Wafd party, and Hazem Omar, of the Republican People’s Party. RPP), candidates ‘authorized’ by the current regime, which suppressed the main opponents and prevented them from running for office.
According to the National Electoral Authority (NEC) It is expected that around 67 million Egyptians over the age of 18 will go to the polls (10,085 polling stations will be open), including around 14 million abroad, with the latter having the opportunity to vote between the 1st and 3rd of this month in The country’s 137 embassies and consulates in 121 states.
These are the third elections since al-Sissi took leadership of Egypt following the 2013 coup that toppled the Muslim Brotherhood government led by Mohamed Morsi, whose former marshal was defense minister.
The elections come amid one of the country’s worst economic crises, and al-Sissi is expected to be re-elected as he also emerges stronger for his handling of the war between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas . .
The economic issue will therefore be the main issue at stake in the elections, in a country where two-thirds of Egypt’s 105 million live below or slightly above the poverty line.
Inflation is currently at 40%, the 50% devaluation of the currency has caused the price of goods – virtually all imported – to skyrocket in recent months and the recent bonuses and raises announced by the President for civil servants and retirees have had little effect. effect.
Source: DN
