Egyptian President Sisi Sworn In for Third Term

Date: 02 April 2024 - 21:18

News ID: ۱۲۵۸۴۴

CAIRO (AFP) – Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was sworn in Tuesday for his third term as leader of the Arab world’s most populous nation.
In power for the past decade, the 69-year-old former army chief is set to remain president until 2030.
Speaking before parliament, Sisi vowed to “remain faithful to my work, my eyes seeing only your interests and this country’s”.
As Egypt has battled a deep economic crisis with the help of billions in overseas loans and investments, he pledged “to realize the aspirations of the Egyptian nation to build a modern, democratic state”.
He won a December election with 89.6 percent of the vote against three relative unknowns, after opposition challengers were sidelined or jailed.
The six-year term is set to be his last, unless he again ushers through a constitutional amendment prolonging his tenure.
In his inauguration speech before parliament, Sisi said he “renews his vow to continue on the course to build the nation”.
Then-defence minister Sisi rose to power on the back of mass protests against president Mohammed Morsi, who was deposed in 2013.
Sisi was elected president the following year and then again in 2018, both times with around 97 percent of the vote.
Pundits have speculated about an impending cabinet reshuffle, which the government has not yet announced.
Tuesday’s oath also marked the inauguration of Egypt’s New Administrative Capital, located in the desert east of Cairo, local media reported.
The $58-billion megaproject is the crowning jewel of Sisi’s administration, which has poured billions into Egypt’s infrastructure but has been criticized for massive debt-fuelled spending.
Cairo’s foreign debt bill has more than tripled over the past decade to a record $165 billion, according to central bank figures, while foreign currency reserves stand at $35 billion.
For the past two years, Egypt has struggled to contain the fallout of a punishing economic crisis that has seen the currency lose two-thirds of its value and inflation soar to a record 40 percent last year.