Trade Union of Health Workers backs Sisi for Egypt’s presidential election

CAIRO – 23 September 2023: The General Trade Union of Health Workers said in a statement on Saturday that health field workers and their families renew their support for President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to run for a third term in presidency.

The Board of Directors of the Union and its committees in the governorates reviewed the practical and technical achievements that were achieved during the president’s era.

It added that health sector workers- during Sisi's tenure- were provided the access to material and moral privileges that contributed to modernizing the system and providing integrated health and medical care for all citizens.

Egypt is preparing for its fifth multi-candidate presidential elections due to convene next year and its third since the 30th of June 2013 Revolution. However, the National Elections Authority (NEA), headed by Judge Walid Hamza, will hold a conference on Monday, September 25, at 2:30 p.m. in the conference hall in Nasr City, to announce all the details regarding the upcoming presidential elections.

The NEA pledges to guarantee the right of presidential candidates who comply with the legal requirements to run for elections, Ahmed Bendari, the executive director of the National Election Authority (NEA) in a press conference held September 20.

He added that the NEA will set the timeframe for presidential campaigns in order for the candidates to present their programs.

“The NEA maintains equal distance from all presidential candidates willing to run for elections,” Bendari said. He also called for all eligible citizens to cast their ballot in the elections, affirming that “the Egyptian people are the sole source of authority and have the full right to choose their president.”

Along with several trade unions, several leading figures from renowned political parties have announced plans to run for elections, including Abdel-Sanad Yamama, head of El-Wafd Party and Hazem Oman, head of the People’s Republican Party.

The constitution does not give the right for a president to run for a third term. However, constitutional amendments in 2019 stretched the presidential term to six years instead of four.

Therefore, incumbent President Sisi, who has been serving since 2014, exceptionally has the right to run for a third term until 2030.

Sisi has not announced plans to run for elections to date. However, tens of political parties and unions have announced support to his potential candidacy, including the parliamentary majority party Mostaqbal Watan.