Cairo: Campaigning started on Saturday in Egypt’s presidential elections in which incumbent President Abdul Fattah Al Sissi is a hot favourite.
The polls scheduled for March pits Al Sissi against Mousa Mustafa, a little-known politician.
Campaigning is due to run for 28 days, according to a judicial committee in charge of the electoral process.
Al Sissi is unlikely to hold rallies, focusing instead on opening development projects and visiting security academies in a gesture of support for the police and army who are engaged in a major anti-terrorism drive.
Mustafa, the head of the small Al Ghad Party, plans rallies in some parts of Egypt. Last month, he announced a last-minute candidacy run for president after other potential challengers to Al Sissi pulled out of the race, or were excluded.
In recent weeks, Al Sissi’s loyalists have stepped up nationwide campaigns aimed at encouraging potential voters to go to polls amid worries about a low turnout. Nearly 60 million Egyptians have the right to vote, according to official figures.
Al Sissi, an ex-defence minister, has ruled Egypt since 2014 after an election landslide win. His current term ends in June.
