Sisi Officially Wins Egyptian Election with 96% of the Vote, Invites Iran to Celebration
Egypt just announced the final results of its first elections since the military overthrew Mohamed Morsi, the country's democratically elected president, almost a year ago. The leader of that coup won by a not-at-all suspicious landslide.
Egypt just announced the final results of its first elections since the military overthrew Mohamed Morsi, the country's democratically elected president, almost a year ago. The leader of that coup won by a not-at-all suspicious landslide.
The AFP reports ex-army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was declared the winner with 96.9 percent of the vote, according to an announcement from the electoral commission released Tuesday. Once spoiled ballots were accounted for, Sisi's biggest rival, Hamdeen Sabbahi, allegedly earned just three percent of the vote.
Egyptians (who weren't already banned or boycotting) saw Sisi's win as a foregone conclusion, as just 47 percent of the country turned out to vote and that's after the electoral commission added an extra day to the polls at the last minute to try and raise voter turnout. Sisi wanted his election to be seen as a universal consensus on his leadership. His opponent accused the commission of tainting the electoral process.
But now Sisi can move on knowing he won a "democratic" election to continue leading Egypt through such a troubled time. His first move post-victory was to try and patch up relations with Iran. Sisi invited Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to his inauguration ceremony, to be held later this week. Rouhani would become just the second Iranian leader to attend since the nations ended diplomatic ties in 1980. So far, Rouhani has not RSVP'd to Sisi's party.