Egypt will hold a presidential vote on Dec. 10-12, the elections authority said on Monday, with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi widely expected to win reelection.
Sisi, 68, can stand for a third term due to constitutional amendments in 2019 that also extended the length of presidential terms to six years from four.
Election results are expected to be announced on Dec. 18 and, in the event of a runoff round, final results should be announced on Jan. 16 at the latest, the election authority said.
Though Sisi has not formally announced his candidacy, pro-government parties have started a campaign including billboards around Cairo backing his reelection.
Four other candidates have expressed an intention to run, most prominently a former member of parliament, Ahmed Eltantawy.
Others who announced their bid include Abdel-Sanad Yamama, head of the Wafd party, one of Egypt’s oldest; Gameela Ismail, head of the liberal Dostour, or Constitution, party; and Farid Zahran, head of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party.
Former army chief Sisi became president in 2014, the year after the overthrow of Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood, following protests against Morsi's rule.
