/ 4 June 2014

Al-Sisi wins 96.9% of votes in Egyptian election

Al Sisi Wins 96.9% Of Votes In Egyptian Election

Ex-army Chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi won 96.9% of votes in Egypt’s presidential election, the electoral commission announced on Tuesday, almost a year after he overthrew elected Islamist leader Mohamed Morsi.

Turnout in last week’s election, hastily extended to three days amid fears of low turnout, was 47.45%, said commission Chief Anwar Rashad al-Asi. Sisi’s rival Hamdeen Sabbahi won just 3% of the vote, excluding spoiled ballots. 

Sisi’s lopsided victory had been certain, with many lauding the retired field marshal as a hero for ending Morsi’s divise rule in July. Yet the lower-than-expected turnout – Sisi himself had called for much more voters to come out â€“ signalled that a wide segment of the population was apathetic or boycotted the election. 

Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood, crushed by a massive crackdown following his overthrow and detention, had boycotted the vote. Some journalists and government employees erupted in applause and began dancing as the final results were announced at a press conference on Tuesday. – AFP