Africa
Strong support is given to the Egyptian leader’s campaign for third term – Media
According to reports from the president’s reelection campaign, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has the support of 424 members of the lower house of parliament, which has 596 seats.
Africanews reported on Saturday, citing the campaign of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, that 424 of the country’s lower house of parliament’s 596 members have endorsed the leader for reelection.
The Egyptian president said last week that he would run for a third term in the elections slated for December during a three-day national assembly.
From December 10 to December 12, the African nation intends to hold a three-day presidential election. A second round of voting, which will take place from January 8 to 10, will be held if no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote.
Numerous politicians have reportedly declared their candidature to unseat Sisi, including former MP and opponent of the present administration Ahmed Altantawy.
Since taking office in 2014, Sisi has been under fire from the West for Egypt’s track record on human rights. In 2018, he was elected to a second four-year term, and two years were added to his tenure by constitutional modifications that were supported in a 2019 referendum. He would remain in office until 2030 with a third term.
Local media reported Cairo demonstrations where supporters urged Sisi to run for a third term prior to his announcement. After the president declared his “intention to run and complete the dream in a new presidential term,” state-affiliated TV broadcast images of tens of thousands of people cheering across the nation.
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The treatment of political prisoners by the Egyptian government, the forthcoming election, media restrictions, and opposition figures were all criticised in a resolution passed by the European Parliament on Wednesday.
The administration was urged in the resolution to undertake “credible, free, and fair” presidential elections as well as to desist from stifling “opposition voices.”
However, the EU study generated strong opposition in the Middle Eastern nation, with the Coalition of Egyptian Parties condemning “any interference in internal affairs as well as external dictations.” The decision was also denounced by the Egyptian parliament on Friday, who claimed it lacked objectivity and legitimacy.