Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is set to take the oath for his third consecutive term on Tuesday in the new capital under construction outside Cairo, as confirmed by the government newspaper Al-Ahram on Monday.
Having held power for more than ten years, Sisi will officially swear on the constitution at the new parliament premises in the administrative capital to the east of Cairo, according to Al-Ahram.
The 69-year-old Sisi will formally commence his new term on Wednesday, following his reelection with 89.6 percent of the vote against three relatively unknown candidates, more than three months ago.
Sisi, a former army chief and defense minister, played a key role in the removal of former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi after widespread protests across Egypt.
This upcoming six-year term is expected to be Sisi’s final one as per the constitution.
MP Mustafa Bakri, a close associate of the ruling authorities, suggested that the government is likely to resign post-Sisi’s inauguration to pave the way for a cabinet reshuffle.
The swearing-in ceremony occurs amidst a severe economic crisis marked by soaring inflation and a shortage of foreign currency hampering international trade.
In the first quarter of 2024, Egypt experienced a significant financial boost, with billions of dollars flowing in, including $35 billion from the United Arab Emirates and an additional $5 billion on top of an initial $3 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund.
While Sisi’s supporters anticipate that this influx of foreign currency will rejuvenate the economy, skeptics doubt any substantial progress without fundamental reforms to diminish the disproportionate influence of the military and government in the economic landscape.
