Egypt's Sisi wins presidential election with 89.6 pct of vote

This photo taken on Dec. 18, 2023 shows a press conference on the presidential election in Cairo, Egypt. Egypt's National Election Authority (NEA) declared on Monday that incumbent President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi won the 2024 presidential election with 89.6 percent of valid votes. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

CAIRO, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- Egypt's National Election Authority (NEA) declared on Monday that incumbent President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi won the 2024 presidential election with some 40 million, or 89.6 percent of valid votes.

At a press conference in Cairo, Chairman of the NEA Hazem Badawy said that nearly 44.8 million citizens at home and abroad voted in the election, out of some 67 million eligible voters, representing a turnout of 66.8 percent, which is "the highest turnout in Egypt's history."

Hazem Omar, who leads the Republican People's Party, won 4.5 percent of the vote, followed by the Egyptian Social Democratic Party's Farid Zahran, and the Egyptian Wafd Party's Abdel-Sanad Yamama.

Following the announcement of the election's results, Sisi gave a speech to the nation, in which he said "choosing me for the mission of leading the country is a responsibility that I bear faithfully."

"The state is grappling with a multitude of challenges across all levels," on top of which is the conflict in Gaza that threatens "Egypt's national security," he said.

"We own the military and economic capabilities for persevering the national security and the people gains," the Egyptian president added.

Voting in Egypt took place on Dec. 10-12 while Egyptians abroad cast their vote on Dec. 1-3 in 121 countries.

The result is final as the incumbent candidate's winning a large majority to waive the country of a run-off, according to Egyptian laws.

This photo taken on Dec. 18, 2023 shows a scene at the press conference on the presidential election in Cairo, Egypt. Egypt's National Election Authority (NEA) declared on Monday that incumbent President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi won the 2024 presidential election with 89.6 percent of valid votes. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

This photo taken on Dec. 18, 2023 shows a scene at the press conference on the presidential election in Cairo, Egypt. Egypt's National Election Authority (NEA) declared on Monday that incumbent President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi won the 2024 presidential election with 89.6 percent of valid votes. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

A man celebrates after incumbent Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi won the 2024 presidential election, in Cairo, Egypt, on Dec. 18, 2023. Egypt's National Election Authority (NEA) declared on Monday that incumbent President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi won the 2024 presidential election with some 40 million, or 89.6 percent of valid votes. (Photo by Mohamed Asad/Xinhua)

Supporters celebrate after incumbent Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi won the 2024 presidential election, in Cairo, Egypt, on Dec. 18, 2023. Egypt's National Election Authority (NEA) declared on Monday that incumbent President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi won the 2024 presidential election with some 40 million, or 89.6 percent of valid votes. (Photo by Mohamed Asad/Xinhua)

A man celebrates after incumbent Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi won the 2024 presidential election, in Cairo, Egypt, on Dec. 18, 2023. Egypt's National Election Authority (NEA) declared on Monday that incumbent President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi won the 2024 presidential election with some 40 million, or 89.6 percent of valid votes. (Photo by Mohamed Asad/Xinhua)