In an interview with a US broadcaster, Egypt’s president rejected calls by several pro-government lawmakers and media figures to amend the constitution in favor of allowing a president to serve more than two terms. It was the first time that he had publically spoken about the issue.
“It doesn’t suit me as a president to stay one more day against the will of the Egyptians,” Sisi told CNBC over the weekend. “We will not interfere with (the constitution)…I am with preserving two four-year terms.”
Sisi must now decide whether to run for a second term. He has not yet announced his intention to run in 2018.
Sisi, a former army chief, was elected to office 2014, a year after he led the military coup against the democratically-elected Islamist president Mohammed Morsi.
Rights groups have repeatedly criticized Sisi’s government for its record of abuses and repression.
Under his rule, Egypt has seen a large-scale crackdown on dissent, the jailing of several human rights activists and journalists. Other dissidents have been slapped with travel bans over allegations of harming national security.
