Egypt: Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi is expected to run for President

Egypt's Field Marshall Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi
(Image: Ahram-Online)

Egypt’s Field Marshall, chief of the Armed Forces and Minister of Defense Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has stated that he will run for President during the upcoming presidential elections to be held in Egypt. El-Sisi has declared it during his official speech at the officers’ graduation ceremony in Cairo, stating: “I cannot turn my back if the majority wants me to run for President”.

“The formal procedures will be finalized within the coming days”, added Field Marshall and called people to stay united and to work together in order to build the new Egypt and develop the country.

General Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi was appointed head of SCAF and Egypt’s Armed Forces by the currently ousted Islamist President Mohamed Morsy and replace on this position Mohamed Hussein Tantawy, who has ruled Egypt during the transitional period after January 25 Revolution in 2011.

Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has gained an unimaginable popularity among Egyptians after he has ousted Mohamed Morsy in July 2013. In January he was promoted to Field Marshall by Egypt’s interim President Adly Mansour.

El-Sisi didn’t declare his intentions to run for President directly during long time, though he was supported by many Egyptians and political forces as well. SCAF (Supreme Council of the Armed Forces) has also backed his candidacy.

New law regulating presidential elections in Egypt was finalized recently and sent for review and approval to the interim President Adly Mansour. After the law will be issue, the presidential campaign will start.

A leading Egyptian political figure Amr Moussa stated earlier, that Sisi will announce his candidacy soon and he has also started forming his presidential team and preparing his presidential program. He is also making “arrangement within the military” prior to announce his presidential bid, added Moussa, as he needs to resign from the position of Minister of Defense and Head of the Armed Forces. Egyptian law forbids military and police personnel to run for high state positions.