Egypt to hold presidential elections in December

Egypt’s presidential election is scheduled to take place from December 10 to 12, 2023, as announced by the country’s electoral authority in the beginning of the week. The winner will be officially declared on December 18. The conclusive results of the presidential race will be disclosed and printed in the official newspaper no later than January 16th, ensuring the entire electoral process concludes by January 17th, 2024.

Although President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has not yet formally declared his candidacy, he is widely anticipated to run for re-election.

This election move by Sisi was anticipated by experts due to concerns about a potential shift to a flexible exchange rate, which could heighten economic tensions. Egypt currently grapples with an economic crisis marked by surging inflation in recent months and a currency that has depreciated by half since March 2022. The government has maintained a fixed exchange rate since earlier this year.

At the age of 68, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has held power since his initial election in 2014, securing re-election in 2018, even against one of his own political allies. In 2019, he solidified his authority with constitutional amendments that permit him to seek a third term. These changes also extended presidential terms from four to six years, potentially allowing Sisi to remain in office until 2030 if re-elected.