Egypt’s National Election Authority has announced that the country will hold a presidential election from December 10 to 12, 2023, with the winner set to be declared on December 18. The final results will be officially published no later than January 16, 2024.
While President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has not formally announced his candidacy, he is widely expected to seek and secure reelection. This move comes at a crucial juncture for Egypt as it grapples with an escalating economic crisis characterized by soaring inflation and a currency that has lost half its value since March 2022.
Experts had anticipated that President Sisi would advance the 2024 election due to concerns about the imminent switch to a flexible exchange rate system, which has the potential to exacerbate economic tensions. The government had maintained a fixed exchange rate since the beginning of the year.
Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, now 68, has held the presidency since 2014 when he was first elected and subsequently won a second term in 2018. In 2019, constitutional changes extended presidential terms to six years and permitted a third term, enabling Sisi to potentially remain in power until 2030 should he secure victory in the upcoming election. This election will be closely monitored as Egypt navigates a challenging economic landscape and a pivotal moment in its political history.
