Presidential candidate and former army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi gestures after casting his ballot in Cairo, May 26, 2014 (Photo: Reuters)
The electoral campaign of Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, the winner of Egypt's 2014 presidential election, extended its thanks on Thursday to both supporters and rival candidate Hamdeen Sabahi.
On its official Facebook page, the campaign said Egyptians showed their "patriotism through positive participation in the election process, helping the country to choose its future and achieve another step in the political roadmap that has united Egyptians."
The May 26-28 presidential election was the second vote after the ouster of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July of last year. The first was on a new constitution, passed in January.
Unofficial results indicated a landslide victory for the country's former military chief, who secured over 96 percent – or 23 million – of valid votes. Turnout was around 47 percent.
The campaign thanked the sole rival in the elections, leftist politician Sabahi, who "with his campaigners presented a patriotic and respectable example for honourable competition."
El-Sisi's campaign also extended thanks to judges, the military and police who helped the election to "bedazzle" the world.
"This nation has put itself, with its great people's will, on the beginning of the right track and has stepped firmly and trustingly ... towards the future they've chosen."
They said the media also reported with "maturity and professionalism".
"The aim for this vote is something we should all agree on, despite our differences, which is the love of the country," the campaign said.
Short link: