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In Egypt, top general Abdel Fatah al-Sissi to run for president In Egypt, top general Abdel Fatah al-Sissi to run for president
(35 minutes later)
CAIRO — Egypt’s powerful military commander Abdel Fatah al-Sissi formally announced his plan to run for president, in an long anticipated address to the nation Wednesday night. CAIRO — Egypt’s powerful military commander Abdel Fatah al-Sissi formally announced his plan to run for president, declaring his candidacy in a widely-anticipated address to the nation broadcast on state television Wednesday night.
After a long meeting with a council of the country’s top military officers, Sissi said he resigned from his position as defense minister and commander of the armed forces. In an hours-long meeting with a council of the country’s top military officers, Sissi resigned from his position as Defense Minister and commander of the armed forces on Wednesday, he said.
“I am standing in front of you for the last time in the military uniform,” he said. “I announce my intention to run for president.” “I am standing in front of you for the last time in the military uniform,” he said in a pre-recorded address. “I announce my intention to run for president.”
The statement ends weeks of speculation over whether or not the popular army chief would step down to launch a bid for the presidency, after riding the wave of nationalist fervor that accompanied the overthrow of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi last summer.
Many Egyptians see Sissi, who spearheaded the July coup against Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood, as a near-invincible leader capable of concluding the myriad social and economic problems that have plagued Egypt since a popular uprising in 2011. Sissi, they say, has stood up to Egypt’s enemies at home and abroad, and can again restore the country’s position as a regional power.
But while Sissi spoke Wednesday night of vague goals like creating a “better Egypt” where people lead lives “of dignity, security, and freedom,” he also said he would not reveal a formal political platform until the country’s electoral commission finished its preparations for the election registration process.
The commission has not yet announced a deadline for registration. Only one other politician — leftist figure Hamdeen Sabbahi — has declared plans to contest the elections. Just minutes after Sissi concluded his speech, Sabbahi’s campaign posted a list of reasons to vote for the leftist politician on his official Facebook page.
“Voting for Sabbahi is voting for an ordinary citizen” who is closer to the people, the post said. Sabbahi has been critical of Sissi’s decision to run for president, calling on the army to stay out of politics.