In a presidential election that is overshadowed by the Gaza War and a dire economic situation at home, Egyptians will go to the polls on Sunday.
It is anticipated that incumbent President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi will win a third term in office during the three days of voting that will conclude on Tuesday.
Al-Sissi has garnered some popular support again since many Egyptians concur with his cautions against the predicted exodus of Gazans into neighboring Egypt in the midst of the current Israeli bombardment, despite growing dissatisfaction with surging inflation at home.
He says any such migration would undermine the Palestinian cause.
Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7, al-Sissi has also cautioned that displacing Palestinians to Egypt would turn the Sinai Peninsula into a launchpad for attacks against Israel.
Besides al-Sissi, three other candidates are running for office.
Al-Sissi, an ex-army chief, did not give any campaign interviews, but his diplomatic engagements on Gaza have largely served that purpose.
People watched his press conferences alongside foreign dignities as the war on Gaza near Egypt’s north-eastern border took the spotlight away from domestic problems, including a lack of freedom of expression.
Last month, he gave a public speech to thousands of people held at the Cairo stadium to show solidarity with Palestinians.
Moreover, giant billboards with his pictures are seen across Cairo, dwarfing those of the three other contenders.
They are Farid Zahran, a leftist politician heading the Social Democratic Party; Abdel-Sanad Yamama, the head of the liberal Wafd party; and Hazem Omar, the founder of the liberal People’s Republican Party.
More than 9,300 polling stations across Egypt will be open from 9 am (0700 GMT) for 12 hours.
Some 67 million Egyptians are eligible to vote, according to Egyptian media.
Final official results are expected to be announced on Dec. 18.
(dpa/NAN)
