Egyptians vote: three days to choose the next president

11 thousand polling stations have been secured. The count will start immediately after polls close on March 28 and the announcement of the results is expected for April 2nd. The voices of the Egyptians.


Cairo (AsiaNews) - The polling stations are officially open: from nine o'clock this morning, Egypt is called to choose its next president. A vote that according to analysts will see the certain victory of the outgoing president Abdel-Fattah Al-Sissi, with voter turnout the only real question.

Yesterday, the Ministry of the Interior concluded the securing of the 11 thousand polling stations, which will remain open until 9 pm on Wednesday 28. The National Elections Authority (Nea) states that it will allow 54 local NGOs and 15 international Arab and African organizations to monitor the elections, and that there will also be 1,558 local and 680 foreigner journalists. There are 59 million eligible voters in Egypt. The counting will start immediately after the closing of polls, and the results will be made public on April 2nd.

Some comments:

I ask the Egyptians not to be afraid. Going to the polls will be our response to terrorism.

Abdel-Hadi Al-Qassabi, supreme leader of the Sufi congregations

Seriously and very seriously, this state would like to expel you completely from Sinai.

Mossaad Abou-Fagr, activist in Sinai.

All appeals to boycott elections have failed.

Makram Mohamed Ahmed, Supreme Leader of the Organization of Media and Press.

Looking at the streets with all the thousands of pro-Sisi posters disgusts me.

Nesrine Badawi, internauta

I lived in Egypt for seven years. I was stopped while interviewing a citizen during the election campaigns, and threatened with a military trial if I refused to board a plane in the following days. I do not understand what's happening.

Bel Trew, ex- Cairo correspondent for The Times, expelled

Take part in the elections. It matters little if you say yes (to the outgoing president) or not ...

Government advertising on Egyptian television

Observe the reality of our lives and you will experience the happiness in which we live.

Abdel-Razek Tewfik, editor-in-chief of the pro-government daily al-Gomhouriya ("La Repubblica")

(Loula Lahham collaborated)