2018 Egyptian presidential election

The president of Egypt is elected using the two-round system.[http://www.electionguide.org/elections/id/2787/ Arab Republic of Egypt] IFES If only one person runs for the presidency, they can be elected with a yes vote from five percent of eligible voters.{{cite web|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/1187/288891/Egypt/-Presidential-Elections--/Wafd-Party-votes-not-to-nominate-chairman-ElSayed-.aspx|title=Wafd Party votes not to nominate chairman El-Sayed El-Badawi in Egypt's upcoming presidential elections|publisher=Ahram Online|date=27 January 2018|access-date=27 January 2018|archive-date=27 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127213510/http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/1187/288891/Egypt/-Presidential-Elections--/Wafd-Party-votes-not-to-nominate-chairman-ElSayed-.aspx|url-status=live}}

The Civil Democratic Movement announced on 30 January 2018 that it would boycott the vote.{{Cite news|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/1187/289073/Egypt/-Presidential-Elections--/Eight-liberal-and-leftist-Egyptian-parties-to-boyc.aspx|title=Eight liberal and leftist Egyptian parties to boycott 2018 presidential elections|agency=Ahram Online|date=30 January 2018|access-date=30 January 2018|archive-date=10 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210005928/http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/1187/289073/Egypt/-Presidential-Elections--/Eight-liberal-and-leftist-Egyptian-parties-to-boyc.aspx|url-status=live}}

Abdel Fattah el-Sisi was the incumbent president of Egypt. After leading the 2013 military coup that overthrew Egypt's first democratically elected president, el-Sisi retired from his military career in 2014 and subsequently won that year's presidential election. In the announcement of his candidacy, he stated, "There are people I know who are corrupt, I will not allow them to come near this chair.”{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-egypt-politics-anan/ex-military-chief-of-staff-to-run-in-egyptian-presidential-election-idUSKBN1F82VE|title=Ex-military chief of staff to run in Egyptian presidential election|date=20 January 2018|work=Reuters|access-date=30 January 2018|archive-date=23 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123070834/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-egypt-politics-anan/ex-military-chief-of-staff-to-run-in-egyptian-presidential-election-idUSKBN1F82VE|url-status=live}} President Sisi received the endorsement of 464 members of Egyptian Parliament, approximately two thirds of the body.{{Cite news|url=https://www.madamasr.com/en/2018/01/10/news/u/464-mps-endorse-sisi-for-presidency/|title=464 MPs endorse Sisi for presidency|work=Mada Masr|access-date=30 January 2018|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130162527/https://www.madamasr.com/en/2018/01/10/news/u/464-mps-endorse-sisi-for-presidency/|archive-date=30 January 2018|url-status=dead}}

El-Ghad Party chairman Moussa Mostafa Moussa, a pro-Sisi politician who had an active role in collecting nomination pledges for Sisi's second term until 20 January, announced that he found endorsements from 26 members of parliament, as well as 47,000 signatures from the public, although he declared his intention to run just a day before the deadline of the elections commission.{{cite web|url=http://www.egyptindependent.com/presidential-hopeful-moussa-mostafa-moussa-submits-candidacy-papers-in-last-minute-move/|title=Presidential hopeful Moussa Mostafa Moussa submits candidacy papers in last-minute move|date=29 January 2018|publisher=Egypt Independent|access-date=29 January 2018|archive-date=29 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129171426/http://www.egyptindependent.com/presidential-hopeful-moussa-mostafa-moussa-submits-candidacy-papers-in-last-minute-move/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/29/egypt-election-sole-challenger-to-sisi-registers-at-last-minute|title=Egypt election: sole challenger to Sisi registers at last minute|website=The Guardian|date=29 January 2018|access-date=29 January 2018|archive-date=29 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129141336/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/29/egypt-election-sole-challenger-to-sisi-registers-at-last-minute|url-status=live}} Moussa submitted his nomination pledges and official paperwork to the commission just 15 minutes before the deadline.{{cite web|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContentP/1/288971/Egypt/Ghad-Party-chairperson-Moussa-Mostafa-Moussa-to-su.aspx|title=Ghad Party chairperson Moussa submits candidacy papers for Egypt presidential elections beating deadline|website=Ahram Online|date=29 January 2018|access-date=29 January 2018|archive-date=30 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130091330/http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContentP/1/288971/Egypt/Ghad-Party-chairperson-Moussa-Mostafa-Moussa-to-su.aspx|url-status=live}} In an interview with Egypt Today, Moussa said he was not a "phony" candidate, and that he had "a vision that can be achieved by being part of the system".{{cite web|url=http://www.egypttoday.com/Article/2/41393/Exclusive-Moussa-Mostafa-I-am-not-phony-candidate-in-presidential%7D%7D|title=Exclusive - Moussa Mostafa: I am not 'phony' candidate in presidential election|website=Egypt Today|date=29 January 2018|author=Jehad ElSayed|access-date=29 January 2018|archive-date=5 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220105002004/https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/1/41393/Exclusive-Moussa-Mostafa-I-am-not-phony-candidate-in-presidential|url-status=live}}

• Ahmed Shafik, former Egyptian prime minister and leader of the Egyptian Patriotic Movement and 2012 presidential candidate.{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/01/ahmed-shafik-pulls-egypt-presidential-race-180107161554445.html|title=Ahmed Shafik pulls out of Egypt presidential race|publisher=Al Jazeera|date=8 January 2018|access-date=8 January 2018|archive-date=7 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107214038/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/01/ahmed-shafik-pulls-egypt-presidential-race-180107161554445.html|url-status=live}}

• Khaled Ali, a human rights lawyer and former head of the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights (ECESR){{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/egyptian-presidential-hopeful-and-rights-lawyer-khaled-ali-says-he-is-withdrawing-from-the-race/2018/01/24/1639041c-0128-11e8-86b9-8908743c79dd_story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180125134935/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/egyptian-presidential-hopeful-and-rights-lawyer-khaled-ali-says-he-is-withdrawing-from-the-race/2018/01/24/1639041c-0128-11e8-86b9-8908743c79dd_story.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 January 2018|title=Egyptian presidential hopeful and rights lawyer Khaled Ali says he is withdrawing from the race|agency=Associated Press|date=24 January 2018|newspaper=Washington Post}} and 2012 presidential candidate,{{cite web|url=http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/News/23616.aspx|title=To run or not|publisher=Al-Ahram Weekly|date=25 January 2018|access-date=27 January 2018|archive-date=26 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126235018/http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/News/23616.aspx|url-status=live}} announced his intention to run for the presidency on 6 November 2017.{{Cite news|url=https://www.madamasr.com/en/2017/11/07/feature/politics/khaled-ali-announces-intention-to-run-in-upcoming-presidential-elections/|title=Khaled Ali announces intention to run in upcoming presidential elections|work=Mada Masr|access-date=30 January 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=1 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180101073626/https://www.madamasr.com/en/2017/11/07/feature/politics/khaled-ali-announces-intention-to-run-in-upcoming-presidential-elections/|url-status=live}} Ali withdrew on 24 January 2018 after the arrest of another candidate, Sami Anan. He had also been convicted of making "an obscene gesture" outside a courthouse and was in the appeal process.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/24/khaled-ali-withdraws-egyptian-presidential-race-abdel-fatah-al-sissi|title=Khaled Ali withdraws from Egyptian presidential race|last1=Michaelson|first1=Ruth|date=24 January 2018|website=the Guardian|language=en|access-date=30 January 2018|archive-date=18 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201218050342/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/24/khaled-ali-withdraws-egyptian-presidential-race-abdel-fatah-al-sissi|url-status=live}}
• Sami Hafez Anan, former Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, officially announced his candidacy in a [https://www.facebook.com/samianan2018/videos/168000413718093/ Facebook video] on 19 January 2018. He was arrested on 23 January after being accused by the Egyptian Armed Forces of forging his release from military service. It is illegal in Egypt for active military personnel to participate in politics. Anan retired from military service in 2012 after being removed by then-president Mohamed Morsi. The Defense Ministry claims that it has documentation that he is still a reserve member of the military. Anan's campaign manager claimed in a television interview that Anan had submitted the paperwork to request a discharge from his reserve status, and said Anan had followed the precedent set by President Sisi in his 2014 run.{{Cite news|url=https://www.madamasr.com/en/2018/01/23/news/u/former-armed-forces-chief-of-staff-arrested-referred-to-military-prosecution-after-announcing-presidential-bid/|title=Former Armed Forces chief of staff arrested, referred to military prosecution after announcing presidential bid|work=Mada Masr|access-date=30 January 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=30 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130145524/https://www.madamasr.com/en/2018/01/23/news/u/former-armed-forces-chief-of-staff-arrested-referred-to-military-prosecution-after-announcing-presidential-bid/|url-status=live}}
• El-Sayyid el-Badawi, chairman of the New Wafd Party.{{cite web|url=https://dailynewsegypt.com/2018/01/27/nec-continues-reviewing-ngo-requests-monitor-presidential-election/|title=NEC continues reviewing NGO requests to monitor presidential election|work=Daily News Egypt|date=27 January 2018|access-date=27 January 2018|archive-date=16 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116094750/https://dailynewsegypt.com/2018/01/27/nec-continues-reviewing-ngo-requests-monitor-presidential-election/|url-status=live}}
• Mortada Mansour, chairman of Zamalek Sporting Club.{{cite web|url=https://www.egyptdailynews.com/detail/mp-mortada-mansour-will-not-stand-for--presidential-election|title=MP Mortada Mansour will not stand for 2018 presidential election|date=27 January 2018|publisher=Egypt Daily News|access-date=27 January 2018|archive-date=28 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180128132649/https://www.egyptdailynews.com/detail/mp-mortada-mansour-will-not-stand-for--presidential-election|url-status=live}}
• Mohamed Anwar Esmat Sadat, expelled MP, chairman of the Reform and Development Misruna Party, former chairman of the Egyptian House of Representatives' Human Rights Committee and nephew of Anwar Sadat.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/15/sadat-nephew-and-sisi-critic-drops-egyptian-presidential-bid|title=Sadat nephew and Sisi critic drops Egyptian presidential bid|work=The Guardian|date=15 January 2018|access-date=15 January 2018|archive-date=15 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115160536/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/15/sadat-nephew-and-sisi-critic-drops-egyptian-presidential-bid|url-status=live}}

Supporters of former presidential candidates Sami Hafez Anan and Khaled Ali faced difficulties in registering pledges for them.{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-egypt-politics/failure-to-launch-egypt-opposition-hits-roadblock-on-path-to-presidency-idUSKBN1FA0CH|title=Failure to Launch: Egypt Opposition Hits Roadblock on Path to Presidency|website=Reuters|date=21 January 2018|access-date=29 January 2018|archive-date=29 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129025500/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-egypt-politics/failure-to-launch-egypt-opposition-hits-roadblock-on-path-to-presidency-idUSKBN1FA0CH|url-status=live}} It was reported that el-Sisi exerted pressure on former presidential candidates so that they would not run against him.{{cite web|url=https://www.madamasr.com/en/2018/02/10/feature/politics/analysis-how-sisi-has-been-sidelining-his-opponents/|title=Analysis: How Sisi has been sidelining his opponents|website=Mada Masr|date=10 February 2018|access-date=11 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621133155/https://www.madamasr.com/en/2018/02/10/feature/politics/analysis-how-sisi-has-been-sidelining-his-opponents/|archive-date=21 June 2018|url-status=dead}}

According to Foreign Policy, "the March vote will in no way confirm President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's popularity among the Egyptian people. This election campaign is merely an extension of the internal power struggle among the military and the regime's security services, and it has nothing to do with democratic mechanisms worthy of the name."{{Cite web|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/01/24/egypts-undemocratic-election/|title=Egypt's Undemocratic Election|website=Foreign Policy|language=en|access-date=21 February 2018|archive-date=21 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180221100342/https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/01/24/egypts-undemocratic-election/|url-status=live}}

Following the elections, it was reported that large number of spoilt ballot papers, possibly more than a million, involved voters crossing out both names and writing that of football player Mohamed Salah.{{cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21739854-despite-bribes-and-threats-voters-seemed-unenthusiastic-abdel-fattah-al-sisi|title=Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi wins a second term in Egypt|newspaper=The Economist|date=30 March 2018|access-date=6 April 2018|archive-date=3 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503191739/https://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21739854-despite-bribes-and-threats-voters-seemed-unenthusiastic-abdel-fattah-al-sisi|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2018/4/3/egypts-election-produces-surprise-runner-up-mohamed-salah|title=Egypt's election produces surprise runner-up: Mohamed Salah|publisher=The New Arab|date=3 April 2018|access-date=6 April 2018|archive-date=24 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224211017/https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/News/2018/4/3/Egypts-election-produces-surprise-runner-up-Mohamed-Salah|url-status=live}}

{{Election results

|cand1=Abdel Fattah el-Sisi|party1=Independent|votes1=21835387

|cand2=Moussa Mostafa Moussa|party2=El-Ghad Party|votes2=656534

|invalid=1762231

|electorate=59078138

|source=[https://web.archive.org/web/20180402214124/https://www.elections.eg/results-2018 HEC]

}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Egyptian elections}}

Egypt

Presidential election

Category:Presidential elections in Egypt

Category:Abdel Fattah el-Sisi