Egyptians began voting, on Sunday (Dec 10), in a presidential election overshadowed by the war in neighbouring Gaza between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas while the incumbent President&nbsp;Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is poised to secure a third term in power. The polling began as the country grapples with one of the most severe financial crises in its recent history.&nbsp;

<h2>About the elections</h2>

The voting began at 9:00 am and will go on till 9:00 pm (local time) and will continue for the next three days. The results will be announced on December 18.&nbsp;

Voters lined up before the booths opened in Cairo, reported AFP, with patriotic songs playing on a loop amid heavy security. Riot police were deployed at entrances to Tahrir Square in the capital’s centre.&nbsp;

Around 67 million people are eligible to vote but given the low turnout in the previous elections, the government has ramped up efforts to urge voters to cast their ballots.

Sisi is poised to win a new six-year term while critics have called the election a sham after the government’s decade-long crackdown on dissent. However, the state media has called this election a step towards political pluralism.

There are three other candidates qualified to stand against the incumbent, but the only prominent figure who had the potential to give some competition to Sisi stepped down in October citing attacks against his supporters by officials and thugs. The accusations have since been dismissed by the national election authority.&nbsp;

“Of course people need to participate, but let’s be realistic: these elections are set for Sisi, because no one knows the other candidates,” a voter in her fifties told AFP on condition of anonymity.&nbsp;

Voters also said that they didn’t even know that the elections were happening, but noted that it would make very little difference. “I feel indifferent about the elections because there will be no real change,” Aya Mohamed, a 35-year-old marketing executive told Reuters.&nbsp;

<h2>Economic crisis, war in Gaza on minds</h2>

In 2013, Sisi, while serving as the army chief led the efforts to oust Egypt’s first democratically elected president, Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood, before winning the presidency the following year with 97 per cent of the vote.

Under Sisi’s rule, Egypt has jailed thousands of political dissenters as the crackdown swept up liberal and leftist activists as well as Islamists. However, the incumbent president and his supporters have argued that the crackdown was needed to stabilise Egypt and counter Islamist extremism.&nbsp;

Rights groups reportedly say tens of thousands have been jailed, this is even though around 1,000 people were freed after a presidential pardon in one year.&nbsp;

If Sisi wins, one of his priorities would also include preventing spillover from the war between Israel and Hamas.

Meanwhile, Egypt’s fast-growing population of 104 million is struggling to keep up with the rising inflation in the country.&nbsp;

Inflation has hovered near 40 per cent after the currency lost half its value and drove up the cost of imports, but even before the current crisis, millions of people were living on or below the poverty line.&nbsp;

A report by Reuters said voters were handed out bags containing flour, rice and other basic commodities after showing ink stains on their fingers indicating they had voted. However, some expressed disappointment that it did not include sugar recently subject to sharp price rises.

During Sisi’s rule, the national debt has tripled while the various mega-projects which are often led by the military fail to deliver on their benefits.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Egyptians began voting, on Sunday (Dec 10), in a presidential election overshadowed by the war in neighbouring Gaza between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas while the incumbent President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is poised to secure a third term in power.

Egyptians began voting, on Sunday (Dec 10), in a presidential election overshadowed by the war in neighbouring Gaza between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas while the incumbent President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is poised to secure a third term in power. The polling began as the country grapples with one of the most severe financial crises in its recent history. About the elections The voting began at 9:00 am and will go on till 9:00 pm (local time) and will continue for the next three days. The results will be announced on December 18. Voters lined up before the booths opened in Cairo, reported AFP, with patriotic songs playing on a loop amid heavy security. Riot police were deployed at entrances to Tahrir Square in the capital’s centre. Around 67 million people are eligible to vote but given the low turnout in the previous elections, the government has ramped up efforts to urge voters to cast their ballots. Sisi is poised to win a new six-year term while critics have called the election a sham after the government’s decade-long crackdown on dissent. However, the state media has called this election a step towards political pluralism. There are three other candidates qualified to stand against the incumbent, but the only prominent figure who had the potential to give some competition to Sisi stepped down in October citing attacks against his supporters by officials and thugs. The accusations have since been dismissed by the national election authority. “Of course people need to participate, but let’s be realistic: these elections are set for Sisi, because no one knows the other candidates,” a voter in her fifties told AFP on condition of anonymity. Voters also said that they didn’t even know that the elections were happening, but noted that it would make very little difference. “I feel indifferent about the elections because there will be no real change,” Aya Mohamed, a 35-year-old marketing executive told Reuters. Economic crisis, war in Gaza on minds In 2013, Sisi, while serving as the army chief led the efforts to oust Egypt’s first democratically elected president, Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood, before winning the presidency the following year with 97 per cent of the vote. Under Sisi’s rule, Egypt has jailed thousands of political dissenters as the crackdown swept up liberal and leftist activists as well as Islamists. However, the incumbent president and his supporters have argued that the crackdown was needed to stabilise Egypt and counter Islamist extremism. Rights groups reportedly say tens of thousands have been jailed, this is even though around 1,000 people were freed after a presidential pardon in one year. If Sisi wins, one of his priorities would also include preventing spillover from the war between Israel and Hamas. Meanwhile, Egypt’s fast-growing population of 104 million is struggling to keep up with the rising inflation in the country. Inflation has hovered near 40 per cent after the currency lost half its value and drove up the cost of imports, but even before the current crisis, millions of people were living on or below the poverty line. A report by Reuters said voters were handed out bags containing flour, rice and other basic commodities after showing ink stains on their fingers indicating they had voted. However, some expressed disappointment that it did not include sugar recently subject to sharp price rises. During Sisi’s rule, the national debt has tripled while the various mega-projects which are often led by the military fail to deliver on their benefits. (With inputs from agencies)

Egyptians cast votes in elections held amid Israel-Hamas war with Sisi almost sure to win

Egypt will hold a presidential vote on Dec. 10-12, the elections authority said on Monday, with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi widely expected to win reelection despite an economic crisis including record inflation and foreign currency shortages.

Sisi, 68, can stand for a third term due to constitutional amendments in 2019 that also extended the length of presidential terms to six years from four, opening the way for him to stay in office until at least 2030.

Election results are expected to be announced on Dec. 18 and, in the event of a run off round, final results should be announced on Jan. 16 at the latest, the election authority said.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/egypts-president-pardons-jailed-activist-ahmed-douma-others-627001">Egypt’s president pardons jailed activist Ahmed Douma, several others</a> 
 
Though Sisi has not formally announced his candidacy, pro-government parties have started a campaign including billboards around Cairo backing his reelection.

Sisi was declared winner of both the 2014 and 2018 elections with 97% of the vote. In 2018 he faced just one opponent, himself an ardent Sisi supporter, after the main challenger was arrested and other hopefuls pulled out, citing intimidation.

Four other candidates have expressed an intention to run this time, most prominently a former member of parliament, Ahmed Eltantawy, who says security services have arrested some of his associates and blocked him from holding election events. Officials have not responded to his allegations.

Former army chief Sisi became president in 2014, the year after he led the overthrow of democratically elected Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood, following protests against Mursi's rule.

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Analysts say Sisi retains the backing of the security services, most importantly the army, which has become more powerful and expanded its economic influence.

Sisi's presidency has been marked by a crackdown on dissent across the political spectrum.

Sisi and his backers said the measures were needed to bring stability after the 2011 ousting of former president Hosni Mubarak in the "Arab Spring" uprisings and pave the way for economic development.

Activists say tens of thousands have been jailed since 2013, often without fair trials, and that the crackdown has continued despite the pardoning of some high-profile prisoners and the launch of a national political dialogue. 
 
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Egypt will hold a presidential vote on Dec. 10-12, the elections authority said on Monday, with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi widely expected to win reelection despite an economic crisis including record inflation and foreign currency shortages.

Egypt will hold a presidential vote on Dec. 10-12, the elections authority said on Monday, with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi widely expected to win reelection despite an economic crisis including record inflation and foreign currency shortages. Sisi, 68, can stand for a third term due to constitutional amendments in 2019 that also extended the length of presidential terms to six years from four, opening the way for him to stay in office until at least 2030. Election results are expected to be announced on Dec. 18 and, in the event of a run off round, final results should be announced on Jan. 16 at the latest, the election authority said. ALSO READ | Egypt’s president pardons jailed activist Ahmed Douma, several others Though Sisi has not formally announced his candidacy, pro-government parties have started a campaign including billboards around Cairo backing his reelection. Sisi was declared winner of both the 2014 and 2018 elections with 97% of the vote. In 2018 he faced just one opponent, himself an ardent Sisi supporter, after the main challenger was arrested and other hopefuls pulled out, citing intimidation. Four other candidates have expressed an intention to run this time, most prominently a former member of parliament, Ahmed Eltantawy, who says security services have arrested some of his associates and blocked him from holding election events. Officials have not responded to his allegations. Former army chief Sisi became president in 2014, the year after he led the overthrow of democratically elected Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood, following protests against Mursi's rule. ALSO READ | Dollar-strapped Egypt resorts to selling state assets to Gulf nations Analysts say Sisi retains the backing of the security services, most importantly the army, which has become more powerful and expanded its economic influence. Sisi's presidency has been marked by a crackdown on dissent across the political spectrum. Sisi and his backers said the measures were needed to bring stability after the 2011 ousting of former president Hosni Mubarak in the "Arab Spring" uprisings and pave the way for economic development. Activists say tens of thousands have been jailed since 2013, often without fair trials, and that the crackdown has continued despite the pardoning of some high-profile prisoners and the launch of a national political dialogue. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Egypt to hold presidential elections in December, Sisi expected to win

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi cast his vote on Saturday as polls opened in a referendum on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/egypts-parliament-backs-measures-that-could-extend-sisis-term-until-2030-211047">constitutional amendments</a> that would extend his rule.

Sisi cast his ballot at a polling station in the eastern Cairo suburb of Heliopolis, state television showed.

His supporters say the changes are necessary to give him more time to complete major development projects and economic reforms, but critics argue they concentrate more powers in Sisi's hands and return Egypt to an authoritarian model.

Egypt's 596-member parliament is dominated by Sisi's supporters and the changes are <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/egypt-opposition-urges-people-to-reject-sisi-amendment-211713">widely expected to pass</a>.

The referendum bucks the trend of the region's mini-Arab Spring, in which mass pro-democracy protests this month swept away veteran presidents in Algeria and Sudan.

Sisi made his grab for power in the turbulent years after the original Arab Spring protests of 2011 toppled long-time ruler Hosni Mubarak, who was followed in office by Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.

Sisi overthrew Morsi in 2013 and the following year won his first term as president. He was re-elected in March 2018 with more than 97 per cent of the vote after standing virtually unopposed.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi cast his vote on Saturday as polls opened in a referendum on constitutional amendments that would extend his rule. Sisi cast his ballot at a polling station in the eastern Cairo suburb of Heliopolis, state television showed.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi cast his vote on Saturday as polls opened in a referendum on constitutional amendments that would extend his rule. Sisi cast his ballot at a polling station in the eastern Cairo suburb of Heliopolis, state television showed. His supporters say the changes are necessary to give him more time to complete major development projects and economic reforms, but critics argue they concentrate more powers in Sisi's hands and return Egypt to an authoritarian model. Egypt's 596-member parliament is dominated by Sisi's supporters and the changes are widely expected to pass. The referendum bucks the trend of the region's mini-Arab Spring, in which mass pro-democracy protests this month swept away veteran presidents in Algeria and Sudan. Sisi made his grab for power in the turbulent years after the original Arab Spring protests of 2011 toppled long-time ruler Hosni Mubarak, who was followed in office by Islamist president Mohamed Morsi. Sisi overthrew Morsi in 2013 and the following year won his first term as president. He was re-elected in March 2018 with more than 97 per cent of the vote after standing virtually unopposed.

Egyptian President Sisi votes as polling begins in referendum to extend his presidential term

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Egyptians cast votes in elections held amid Israel-Hamas war with Sisi almost sure to win

Egypt to hold presidential elections in December, Sisi expected to win

Egyptian President Sisi votes as polling begins in referendum to extend his presidential term