The National Elections Authority on Monday announced that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi has won the country’s presidential election with 89.6% of the vote, securing himself a new six-year term.
The head of the Authority, Hazem Badawy, said that turnout had reached an “unprecedented” 66.8% among Egypt’s 67 million voters.
More than 39 million voters cast their ballots for Mr Sissi, who has been at the helm of the country for a decade.
The President was pitted against three candidates: Hazem Omar, leader of the Republican People’s Party and second in the poll with 4.5% of the vote, Farid Zahran, leader of a small left-wing party, and Abdel-Sanad Yamama of the Wafd, a century-old but now marginal party.
Mr Sissi’s victory guarantees him a third term in office, starting in April and supposed to be his last, under the Egyptian Constitution.
His election comes as no surprise in a country of 106 million people beset by multiple crises, ranging from purchasing power to the war in neighbouring Gaza.
Amid an economic crisis, inflation currently stands at 36.4%, while the currency has lost half its value and the price of certain basic foods is rising every week.
Two-thirds of the population lives below or just above the poverty line.
In the 2014 and 2018 presidential elections, Mr Sissi won with more than 96% of the vote.
