Immigration Min. says Egyptians example of determination

CAIRO – 17 March 2018: Minister of Immigration Nabila Makram praised the high turnout by citizens who amassed at Egyptian embassies abroad as voting for the 2018 presidential election kicked off on Thursday evening.

Markam expressed her appreciation to Egyptian nationals abroad for taking part at the election process, describing them as "Egypt's soldiers abroad".

The minister added, in press remarks, that Egyptians abroad have provided an honorable example of determination and persistence.

She pointed out that the election operation room at the ministry received around 149 inquiries about the election until 9:00pm during the first day.

On March 16, the immigration ministry announced launching an operation room to follow up on the 2018 presidential election abroad.

The operation room is launched under directives of immigration minister Nabila Makram to ensure an easygoing ballot casting process for Egyptian expatriates.

The room is fully equipped with the required devices to communicate and monitor the election process upload; it communicates with Egyptian embassies across the globe to resolve any obstacle that might hinder the process.

Egyptians at home are due on March 26-28 to cast their ballots in the country's 27 governorates.

The National Election Authority (NEA), headed by counselor Lashin Ibrahim, announced on February 24 the final list for Egypt’s upcoming presidential election including President Sisi and Moussa Moustafa Moussa, Head of al-Ghad Party.

Sisi showed his intention to run for president during his closing speech at the end of the three-day “Tale of a Homeland” conference, where the president and the Egyptian government presented an overview of the projects and achievements made in different fields during the last four years.

On his official Twitter account, Sisi called on the Egyptian people to participate intensively in the upcoming election and give their votes to whomever they see most eligible.

Sixty million eligible voters will cast their ballots in the election on March 26-28 in Egypt, while expatriates will vote until March 18 at 139 polling stations located in embassies and consulates of 124 countries, said Ibrahim in a press conference.

The primary results of the first round of the election will be announced on March 29, where decisions on appeals submitted by candidates, if any, will be made.

The final results of the first round will be announced on April 2.