Egypt's army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi might run for president if the military supports the bid.
State paper Al-Ahram quoted him as telling Egyptian officials that if he nominated himself, there must be a popular demand, and a mandate from the army.
According to the BBC, al-Sisi said he could not stand aside if there was palpable demand for him to run.
The comments from al-Sisi come just days before a referendum on a new constitution.
Al-Sisi was the main force behind the ousting of former president Mohammed Morsi, who is facing a raft of criminal charges.
