Egypt's military chief, Field Marshal Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, gave his strongest indication yet that he intends to enter presidential elections, saying in a speech today that he "can't turn his back" at a time when Egyptians want him to run.
El-Sissi is considered almost certain to win if he runs for president, riding on a wave of popular fervour since he ousted the country's first freely elected president, Islamist Mohammed Morsi, who had faced massive protests demanding his removal after a year in office.
Since the ouster last summer, a heated anti-Islamist and nationalist media campaign has fanned support for el-Sissi, touting him as the nation's Saviour.
For weeks, pro-military media have been saying the field marshal will announce his candidacy imminently.
Last month, the top body of military generals, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, publicly gave its backing to an el-Sissi run.
El-Sissi's comments today in a speech to military cadets stopped only a hair short of officially announcing he will run. He hinted he was waiting for the issuing of a law governing the presidential vote and setting a date for it. The vote is to be held by the end of April.
He told the cadets that he "cannot turn his back when a majority of Egyptians want him to run in upcoming presidential elections," the state news agency MENA reported, though he added, "Let the coming days see the official procedures."
"The nation is passing through tough conditions that require the people, the army and the police to stand shoulder to shoulder because no one alone can lift up the country," he said.
If he becomes president, el-Sissi faces a host of economic, security and social woes that would pose real test to his popularity.
Also, the generals' backing of his candidacy has staked the military's reputation on his presidency, meaning the country's most powerful institution could be tarnished by any political turmoil.
El-Sissi was appointed defence minister and army chief by Morsi. Since Morsi's ouster, the military-backed interim government has been waging a fierce crackdown on his Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamists, while facing a growing insurgency by Islamic militants retaliation for Morsi's removal.
