EGYPT: ‘Time for work,’ says Al-Sisi in post-victory address

Minutes after officially being declared as president of Egypt, former Defence Minister Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi addressed the nation in a televised speech on Tuesday night, declaring that it is now “time for work.”

Al-Sisi was elected president by 96.9% of valid votes, totaling 23,780,104, beating the only other contender, Nasserist politician Hamdeen Sabahy.

The newly elected president thanked Sabahy in his national address saying that his underdog opponent “has provided a serious opportunity for choice” during the elections. He called on him to keep working on achieving the peoples’ aspirations.

Sabahy reaped 3.09% of valid votes, a total of 757,511 ballots. Al-Sisi’s presidential campaign announced on its official Facebook page that Sabahy congratulated Al-Sisi on his victory by phone on Tuesday.

Al-Sisi also thanked the people who voted in the presidential elections, over 25 million voters, according to the Presidential Elections Committee. The newly elected president also expressed his gratitude for the armed forces and the police for their efforts in securing the elections, as well as his gratitude for media outlets that “documented” the electoral process.

“The future is a clean page,” Al-Sisi said. “We can fill it whichever way we want. We can fill it with bread, freedom, social justice and dignity.”

The new president, who stressed his faith in the people’s awareness of the threats facing Egypt, said that the achievement of the most of the ‘roadmap’ is the result of the peoples’ “sacrifices during the 25 January revolution and the 30 June revolution.”

Al-Sisi announced a transitional roadmap after declaring the ouster of former President Mohamed Morsi last July. The roadmap was launched with the passing of a new constitution in January. The presidential elections mark the second step, with parliamentary elections expected in six months.

The field marshal’s victory had been widely expected after he became a household name in July when he announced Morsi’s ouster

On Thursday, several international observation missions presented their preliminary findings and condemned the climate surrounding the elections. Although slated to run for only two days, the elections were extended for a third, a move which was criticised by both local and international groups. It is speculated that the extension was a result of the low voter turnout on the first two days.