President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi took the oath of office on Saturday morning in front of Parliament in the presence of all its members and government members, issuing his second presidency term.
Sisi was announced winner of the presidential elections that took place in March, where he ran against candidate Moussa Mustafa Moussa.
Parliament President Ali Abdel Al issued a press statement on Wednesday announcing a special parliamentary session for Sisi to swear in, based on article 144 of the constitution and 109 of the internal rulebook of Parliament.
Sisi arrived at Parliament where he was greeted by a live singing of the Egyptian anthem where Abdel Al read the statement by the National Elections Authority announcing Sisi as president of Egypt for the second term.
Sisi then took the presidential oath, vowing to preserve the constitution and the law and to look after the people’s interests.
The president then gave a speech, asking Parliament to stand a moment of silence for the martyrs and all the sacrifices Egyptians have made for the country. He then addressed Egyptians, expressing his gratitude for their sacrifice and telling them he is “renewing his promise to fight for both survival and prosperity.”
During a short speech, Sis said that Egyptians should hold to their sense of solidarity to face all hardships. He then added that he, based on callings from Egyptians, took on the presidency to save the country from those who want to destory it, whether using Islamist rhetoric or liberalist rhetoric.
He also promised new employment opportunities, adding that social programs have already been exerting a great effort in this sphere. He added that the reform programs have caused some negative effects on the way. But now that they proved to be successful, it was time to reap the benefits. Finally he promised that the Egyptian citizen comes as a top priority in his next presidential term, as the true wealth of nations lies in people.
This is the first presidential oath to take place in Egypt in front of Parliament in the past 13 years. Ousted President Hosni Mubarak last took an oath in 2005. Sisi’s first oath was performed in the Constitutional Court in 2014. However, this event had to take place as the 2014 constitution demanded that Egypt’s next president should take a Parliamentary oath.
The first presidential oath ever to take place in Egypt was in 1953, when Mohamed Naguib had sworn in before the Cabinet and members of the Revolution Command Council. Prior to that Egypt was a monarchy.
Gamal Abdel Nasser was the first to establish tradition that the president takes an oath in front of parliament. He took two oaths, one in front of Cabinet and one in front of Parliament.
In 1970, late President Anwar al-Sadat was sworn in before Parliament as well. Finally, in 1981, Hosni Mubarak took the oath in front of Parliament in 1981.
