Egypt’s election commission makes it official: Sisi won with more than 97% of the vote

Reporting from Cairo —  Egypt’s election commission said Monday that, as expected, President Abdel Fattah Sisi won a second, four-year term with more than 97% of the vote in last week’s election, with turnout of 41.5%.

Sisi faced no serious challenger, after a string of potentially strong candidates withdrew under pressure or were arrested. His sole opponent, little-known politician Moussa Mustafa Moussa, was a supporter of the president who made no effort to challenge him. He won 2.92% of the vote.

Lasheen Ibrahim, the head of the country’s election commission, announced the official results.

Authorities went to great lengths to boost turnout, using the state’s vast resources to get voters out and threatening to fine anyone boycotting the election.