Title: “Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi is running for re-election: what future for Egypt?”
Introduction :
On Monday evening, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi officially announced his candidacy for the presidential election which will be held from December 10 to 12. After toppling former Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013, al-Sissi has been in power for several years and is now seeking another term. However, this announcement comes in a difficult economic context for Egypt and raises questions about the future of the country.
Al-Sisi’s assessment:
Since coming to power, al-Sissi has been credited with numerous successes, notably in the fight against terrorism and economic development. He claims to have defeated “terrorism” and made “development” his priority, launching megaprojects such as building new cities, high-speed trains, bridges and roads. However, some economists criticize these pharaonic projects, saying that they have exhausted state resources and have not benefited the entire population.
Economic crisis :
Despite these achievements, Egypt faces a significant economic crisis. With inflation at 40% and a 50% devaluation of the Egyptian pound, Egyptians are facing rising prices and a reduction in their purchasing power. Al-Sissi warned citizens that they will have to make “sacrifices” to allow the country’s continued development, sparking a wave of criticism on social media.
The rise of the opposition:
While experts expect a victory for al-Sissi in the presidential election, we are seeing an increase in opposition candidacies. Leaders of historic parties have collected the necessary signatures to run, while a former MP, Ahmed al-Tantawy, is seeking to obtain 25,000 signatures from citizens. Despite the difficulties and pressures exerted on the opposition, these candidacies mark a novelty in the Egyptian political landscape since al-Sissi came to power.
Conclusion :
Al-Sissi’s bid for re-election raises questions about Egypt’s future. While the country faces an economic crisis and the population expresses its discontent, the opposition is trying to make itself heard. All that remains is to wait for the results of the presidential election to know the future leader of Egypt and the consequences of this choice on the country and its population.