The National Election Authority announced today, Monday, that Egypt will hold presidential elections from December 10 to 12, 2023. The results are expected to be announced on December 18, and if a second round is needed, the final results will be declared by January 16 at the latest. Predictions favor the current president, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, despite the economic crisis characterized by record inflation and a significant shortage of foreign currency. El-Sisi (68 years old) is eligible to run for a third term according to a constitutional amendment in 2019, which extended the presidential term from four years to six years, allowing him to potentially remain in office until at least 2030.
Although El-Sisi has not officially announced his candidacy, government-affiliated parties have begun a campaign including billboards throughout Cairo supporting his re-election. El-Sisi was declared the winner in the 2014 and 2018 elections with 97 percent of the votes. In 2018, he faced only one competitor, who was a staunch supporter of El-Sisi, after the main competitor was arrested and other candidates withdrew, citing intimidation tactics. Four other candidates have expressed their intention to run this time, notably former parliament member Ahmed Tantawy, who claims that security agencies have arrested some of his aides and prevented him from holding election events. Officials have not responded to his allegations.
