Al Sisi, candidate for December presidential polls

Egypt’s incumbent leader Fattah al Sisi announced Monday his plans to seek another term in office in the December presidential elections after assuming power in 2014.

“I am heeding the call of Egyptians once again, and I am determined to run for president,” El-Sisi stated.

“O God, if someone is more worthy of it than I am, then I pray that you grant them success and aid them; but if it is I who is worthy of it, then I pray that you grant me success and aid me,” the leader prayed in his speech before uttering “May I be the one more worthy of it.”

Al Sisi made the announcement during the final day of the Hikayat Watan conference, held in the New Administrative Capital.
The three-day conference which started Saturday shed light on the achievements of his administration in different fields.

Al Sisi first came to power in 2013 through a military coup that removed the country’s first ever democratically elected president Mohamed Morsi. He later won subsequent 2014 elections.

He won 2018 elections almost unopposed. He incited 2019 constitutional amendments that altered presidential term limits and became eligible to run for a third term in office that ends in 2030.

National Elections Authority (NEA) late last month announced that presidential elections will take place 10-12 December, with Egyptians abroad casting their votes 1-3 December.

Candidates have more than one week, 5 to 14 October 2023, to submit their bids.

Sisi has ruled Egypt with iron-fist as he prevented and muzzled opposition. Thousands of critics and activists, mainly from the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood have been arrested and hauled in jail on trumped charges.

The former army general turned politician and his supporters say the measures were needed to stabilize Egypt after the turmoil caused by the 2011 “Arab Spring” popular uprising in the country.