On April 2, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will be sworn in for a third consecutive term in the new capital, which is being built near Cairo, the government newspaper "Al-Ahram" reported.
"In power for more than a decade, Sisi will be sworn in constitutionally on April 2 at the new parliament building in the administrative capital, east of Cairo," the paper said.
Sisi, 69, will officially begin his term on April 3, more than three months after he was re-elected with 89.6% of the vote against three largely unknown candidates.
A former army chief and defense minister, Sisi oversaw the ouster of former Islamist president Mohamed Morsi following massive popular protests across the country.
According to the constitution, his new term of 6 years must be his last.
Lawmaker Mustafa Bakri, who is close to the ruling forces, said the government would likely resign after Sisi's inauguration to allow for a cabinet reshuffle.
The swearing-in comes amid a severe economic crisis, with spiraling inflation and a shortage of foreign currency stifling foreign trade.
In the first quarter of 2024, however, Egypt benefited from an inflow of billions of dollars, of which $35 billion came from the United Arab Emirates, and a $5 billion increase in an initial $3 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund.
Sisi's supporters say the influx of foreign currency will revive the economy, but observers are skeptical that there will be any improvement without structural reforms to reduce the excessive role of the military and government in the economy./BGNES