The Egyptian presidential elections are scheduled to take place over a three-day period starting on December 10.
A decade after Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi came to power in a coup, he’s preparing to run for a third term.
The former defence minister is the clear favourite despite overseeing a rapidly declining economy and facing criticism from Western partners and rights groups over his human rights record.
In October, el-Sisi announced his bid following a three-day conference called “Story of a Homeland” which presented his accomplishments over the past two terms.
Egyptians living abroad voted at 121 Egyptian embassies and consulates around the world from December 1 to 3.
Here is all you need to know about the upcoming election.
The incumbent, President el-Sisi, is running as an independent candidate despite promising in 2018 that he would not run for a third term.
He served as Egypt’s defence minister from 2012 to 2013 and as deputy prime minister from 2013 to 2014. During those two roles, he was a general in the Egyptian army, serving as director of military intelligence from 2010.
El-Sisi resigned from the army in 2014 to stand for election for president, as he was barred from doing so as a member of the armed forces.
Three candidates are facing off against el-Sisi in this election.
The first is Abdel Sanad Yamama who heads the liberal Wafd Party and is running on the motto “Save Egypt” because, he maintains, Egypt needs saving.
Yamama has said he wants to improve Egypt’s economy and education and to safeguard the legal system from what he described as interference from the executive branch.
Omar is the head of the Republican People’s Party and a wealthy businessman who oversees a tourism company.
He previously served in the government as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee in Egypt’s Senate.
Omar is perceived to be a supporter of el-Sisi as he has not disagreed in public with the president during the last 10 years.
The last candidate is Farid Zahran who heads the Egyptian Social Democratic Party.
A member of Egypt’s leftist student movement in the 1970s, Zahran now promises to improve the quality of living for all Egyptians if he is elected.
The 66-year-old is also perceived to be close to el-Sisi and the security services.