Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has officially announced his candidacy for a third term in office, with an election scheduled to take place in December. However, the political opposition has raised concerns over the fairness of the election, claiming that their candidates are facing harassment and intimidation.
The upcoming election is expected to be won by el-Sisi, who has been in power since 2014 after leading the army to remove Egypt’s first democratically-elected President Mohammed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013. Approximately 65 million Egyptians are eligible to vote in the election, which will be held from December 10 to 12.
Under el-Sisi’s rule, Egypt has experienced a crackdown on freedom of expression, resulting in the imprisonment or forced exile of hundreds of activists and political opponents. The Muslim Brotherhood, once a prominent political party in Egypt, has been outlawed as a “terrorist” organization.
The opposition claims that they have faced pressure ahead of the election, with potential candidate Ahmed al-Tantawi stating that citizens have encountered obstacles when trying to register their support for his candidacy. Prospective candidates are required to gather 25,000 public signatures or receive the support of 20 members of parliament to stand for election.
The Civil Democratic Movement, a political organization, has reported that citizens attempting to nominate opposition candidates have encountered violations. In response, Egypt’s National Election Authority has launched an investigation into these complaints and has denied the allegations.
The upcoming election in Egypt has garnered attention both domestically and internationally, as many individuals and organizations question the fairness and transparency of the political process. Despite the controversy surrounding the election, President el-Sisi remains confident in his bid for re-election and has positioned himself as the strong leader Egypt needs in these turbulent times.
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