Egypt’s ex-army chief wins 94% of expat votes: Officials

Egypt’s election officials say former army chief Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has won over 94 percent of the expat votes in the country’s presidential election.

On Wednesday, Egypt’s Supreme Presidential Election Commission confirmed that former army chief, el-Sisi, has won the majority of the expatriate votes in the country’s presidential election.

The commission confirmed Sisi’s landslide victory over his main rival, Hamdeen el-Sabahi, saying that Sisi has claimed over 94 percent of the expatriate votes.

The commission also announced that over 300,000 Egyptians cast their ballots at polling stations overseas. The expatriates were allowed to vote without prior registration.

Meanwhile, people in mainland Egypt will take part in the presidential election on May 26 and 27. It is the first presidential poll since last July’s military ouster of former president, Mohamed Morsi.

Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood movement and several other political parties have boycotted the vote, calling it illegitimate.

Sisi led the overthrow of Morsi, suspended the constitution and dissolved the parliament in July last year. He is also accused of leading a severe crackdown against the supporters of Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood.

Several international bodies and the UN Human Rights Council have expressed concern over the Egyptian security forces’ heavy-handed crackdown and the killing of peaceful anti-government protesters.

Sisi’s victory would place Egypt’s presidency back in the hands of a top military official just three years after Egyptians rose up against former dictator, Hosni Mubarak, an air force officer who ruled Egypt for nearly three decades.