CAIRO: Polls have opened in Egypt for a presidential election widely anticipated to secure incumbent president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi a third term in office. The voting period spans three days, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., with results slated for announcement on December 18.
According to the election authority, approximately 67 million Egyptians, out of a total population of 104 million, are eligible to cast their votes.
The electoral atmosphere is overshadowed by the ongoing conflict in neighboring Gaza, yet expectations are high that El-Sisi will secure another six years in power. The country faces a severe financial crisis marked by soaring inflation, reaching nearly 40 percent, and economic challenges exacerbated by a currency devaluation.
Voters’ Participation in Egypt’s Presidential Election
Before polling stations opened, voters had already queued up at a central Cairo school amidst heavy security. The economy remains a central concern for Egyptians, with inflation at 38.5 percent and food inflation at 45.2 percent, according to official figures on Sunday.
The election, scheduled from Sunday to Tuesday, will see a variety of candidates, but Sisi faces minimal opposition.
