Maronite Diocese for Egypt and Sudan supports Sisi for 3rd term in presidency

CAIRO – 24 September 2023: Archbishop of the Maronite Diocese of Cairo for Egypt and Sudan and Supreme President of Maronite institutions in Egypt George Shehan called upon the members of the Maronite community in Egypt to support President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and actively participate in the political process of the presidential election due to convene in 2024.

In a statement issued by the Catholic Media Office in Egypt on Sunday, Shehan said that exercising political rights, such as participating in the electoral process, is a national duty.

“His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has worked hard during his years of presidency to ensure the security and stability of Egypt, to strengthen its regional and international status, and to build a modern national state that takes into account the interests of its citizens,” the archbishop said.

“The president has established the principles of coexistence, citizenship, and equality among all Egyptians,” he added.

Egypt is preparing for its fifth multi-candidate presidential elections due to convene in 2024 and its third since the June 30, 2013 Revolution. However, the National Elections Authority (NEA), headed by Judge Walid Hamza, will hold a conference on Monday, September 25, at 2:30 p.m. in the Conference Hall in Nasr City, to announce all the details regarding the upcoming presidential elections.

Along with several trade unions, several leading figures from renowned political parties have announced plans to run for elections, including Abdel-Sanad Yamama, head of El-Wafd Party; and Hazem Oman, head of the People’s Republican Party.

The constitution does not give the right for a president to run for a third term. However, constitutional amendments in 2019 stretched the presidential term to six years instead of four.

Therefore, incumbent President Sisi, who has been serving since 2014, exceptionally has the right to run for a third term until 2030.

Sisi has not announced plans to run for elections to date. However, tens of political parties and unions have announced support to his potential candidacy, including the parliamentary majority party Mostaqbal Watan.