Cairo: Egyptian President Abdul Fattah Al Sissi on Wednesday urged his compatriots to vote en masse in this month’s presidential elections which he is poised to win.
His sole challenger in the election, due to begin on March 26, is Mousa Mustafa, a little-known politician.
“Egyptians’ enormous participation in the vote is a national duty,” Al Sissi said, according to state television.
“Massive participation in voting helps improve Egypt’s image in front of the world,” he added while visiting the headquarters of the Interior Ministry. He pledged “honest” balloting.
In the run-up to the upcoming polls, political parties, backing Al Sissi’s re-election, have held a series of rallies across the nation, urging Egyptians to go to the polls amid fears of low voter turnout.
Potentially strong challengers have dropped out of the race or barred from running.
Al Sissi, a former defence minister, has been ruling Egypt since 2014. His current term ends in June.
He scored a landslide win in the 2014 vote.
