Egypt's Sisi starts third term pledging more investment, social spending
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was sworn in for his third term on Tuesday in the country's new capital, the largest of the mega-projects that have come to symbolise his rule while stretching the country's finances.
Speaking at the new parliament building, Sisi highlighted the challenges Egypt withstood in recent years while promising continued development, which many Egyptians say they feel excluded from.
"The past few years have shown that the path of nation-building is not paved with roses ... between terrorist attempts at home, sudden global crises abroad, fierce wars around us," Sisi told lawmakers and religious, government, and military officials.
Sisi swept to victory in an election last December with 89.6% of the vote and no serious challengers.
As the war raged in neighbouring Gaza his message of stability and security resonated with some voters, but many, preoccupied with economic hardships, expressed indifference about the election, saying the result was a foregone conclusion.
"You carry a heavy load!" shouted one attendee during the ceremony, while another interjected "If God is with you, then no one can be against you!"
Sisi’s term runs to 2030, following constitutional amendments that extended presidential terms to six years and allowed him to stand for a third election.
In his speech, Sisi promised increased spending on programmes targeting the poor and engaging the private sector in line with commitments that helped secure last month's expanded $8 billion deal with the International Monetary Fund.