As Egyptians head to the polls on Monday in a presidential election set to deliver an easy victory for the incumbent leader, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, many are focusing their attention on turnout as major opponents withdrew from the election over intimidation claims.
The about 60 million eligible voters have to choose between the incumbent and a less-known candidate Moussa Mostafa Moussa, who had been a longtime supporter of the current leader. Moussa has since been accused of being used to present a fake sense of competition in the election, a claim he has denied.
Polls will be open for three days and Sisi, who has since cast his vote has urged Egyptians to come out in their numbers and vote. Dozens of people have queued up to vote in and around Cairo, but not in great numbers, Reuters News Agency reports.
Sisi, 63, led the military’s overthrow of Egypt’s first democratically elected President Mohamed Mursi in 2013. Critics say the former military commander has since assuming power launched major crackdowns on dissent. The economy following the unrest in 2011 is also in a bad state and a mandate for Sisi is expected to turn things around.
