Egyptians Participate in Elections During Israel-Hamas Conflict, with President Sisi Poised for Victory

On December 10th, Egyptian citizens began casting their votes in a presidential election, with current President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi expected to secure a third term. The election is taking place amid the Israel-Hamas conflict in neighboring Gaza and a significant financial crisis in Egypt.

The polling, which started at 9:00 am local time, is scheduled to run until 9:00 pm over the course of three days, with results expected on December 18th.

In Cairo, voters were seen queuing up before polling booths opened, as patriotic songs played and heightened security, including riot police at Tahrir Square, was observed. Despite the 67 million eligible voters, past elections have seen low turnout, prompting the government to encourage more participation this time.

President Sisi is favored to win another six-year term, although some critics have dismissed the election as a formality following a decade-long government crackdown on dissent. State media, however, has portrayed the election as a move towards political diversity.

Only three other candidates are contesting against Sisi. A notable opposition figure withdrew in October, citing attacks on his supporters, allegations which the national election authority has dismissed.

Voters have expressed mixed feelings, with some doubtful about the impact of their vote. Aya Mohamed, a 35-year-old marketing executive, told Reuters, “I feel indifferent about the elections because there will be no real change.”

The election takes place against the backdrop of Sisi’s leadership since 2013, when, as army chief, he played a key role in ousting Egypt’s first democratically elected president, Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood. Sisi’s administration has been marked by the detention of thousands of political dissenters, including liberal, leftist, and Islamist activists. The government defends these actions as necessary for stability and combating Islamist extremism.

Human rights groups have reported the jailing of tens of thousands of people, despite a presidential pardon freeing around 1,000 in one year.

If re-elected, Sisi will also focus on preventing the Israel-Hamas conflict from affecting Egypt.

Meanwhile, Egypt’s population of 104 million is grappling with soaring inflation, with the currency losing half its value and increasing the cost of imports. Many Egyptians live at or below the poverty line, and there have been reports of voters receiving bags of basic commodities like flour and rice after voting, although some were disappointed that it did not include sugar, whose price has recently surged.

Under Sisi’s rule, Egypt’s national debt has tripled, and several large-scale projects, often led by the military, have failed to deliver their promised benefits.