Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi put forward a proposal to prepare and qualify potential future candidates for the presidency—specifically individuals holding doctoral degrees from prestigious Egyptian or foreign universities—through a 30-month training program at the Egyptian Military Academy.
During a graduation ceremony for new cohorts from the military colleges and the Egyptian Military Academy, on Saturday, Sisi said that the program would target individuals between the ages of 40-50 who meet the legal requirements for presidential candidacy.
The Military Academy would undertake the preparation and qualification of participants, enabling them to understand the nature of the Egyptian state, the mechanisms by which it is governed, and how to preserve it.
Sisi emphasized that the Academy would cover all costs of the program, regardless of the amount, Sky News Arabia, reported on Saturday.
Legislative framework
Sisi discussed the possibility of preparing groups of 200, 300, or 500 individuals, thereby providing citizens with a pool of qualified candidates from which to choose for the office of the President.
The president called upon the Speaker of Parliament to take charge of developing a legislative framework for this proposal in collaboration with a select group of trusted thinkers and politicians, and with the participation of the Ministries of Higher Education and Justice, with the ultimate goal of drafting a law to regulate the election of those who meet the established criteria.
He emphasized that the program’s objective is to prepare cadres capable of assuming the responsibilities of governance, understanding the requirements of state administration, and safeguarding the nation’s institutions.
‘No criminal, no traitor, shall ever govern Egypt after me’
Sisi stated: “No person with malicious intent, no criminal, and no traitor shall ever govern Egypt after me,” underscoring the importance of preserving the Egyptian state and its future.
Details regarding the mechanisms for selecting program participants, as well as how the proposed qualification process relates to existing constitutional and legal requirements for presidential candidacy, remain unclear.
This proposal emerges at a time when the Egyptian Constitution stipulates specific criteria for running for the presidency, including a minimum age of 40 and the requirement to secure parliamentary or public endorsement, in accordance with procedures set forth by law.