Big expectations for Egypt's President el-Sissi

While he's now clothed as a civilian, Abdel Fattah el-Sissi has spent his career in the Egyptian military. After the former commander-in-chief announced his candidacy for president, his election to the post was considered a mere formality. Around 23 million Egyptians are said to have voted for him.

El-Sissi's arch enemy Mohammed Morsi was the one who gave the new president's career a decisive push. In August 2012, then-President Morsi appointed the general as commander-in-chief of the Egyptian armed forces - in part due to el-Sissi's reputation as a pious man of faith. It was a promotion that didn't benefit the Muslim Brotherhood. In 2013, el-Sissi helped overthrow Morsi.

El-Sissi had already shown his uncompromising side during the 2011 revolution. At the time, the Egyptian military committed serious human rights offenses for which el-Sissi bears some responsibility. As head of military intelligence, the general wasn't just familiar with Egypt's infamous secret prisons. His position also lent him much influence over the country's political leaders.

The presidential election in Egypt was largely a formality. El-Sissi's opponent, Hamdeen Sabahi, had no chance. The official vote tally saw el-Sissi win with 96.9 percent of the vote. The ex-military chief campaigned on a program of heavy state intervention, while a minimum wage and lower executive pay were key planks in Sabahi's bid for the office.

Sabahi accepted his defeat. Many Egyptians have been celebrating President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi in a euphoric fashion. They see him as a strong person who can perhaps get the country, which is facing numerous problems, back on its feet. Egyptians are expecting more security and a quick economic recovery from el-Sissi.

Three years after the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak, Egypt is still suffering from a serious economic crisis. A huge deficit and growing unemployment are breeding discontent; particularly among young people, who have few job prospects. That all adds up to a major challenge for el-Sissi.

El-Sissi has so far issued only vague statements about possible economic reforms. However, he can count on help from other Arab countries. The rich Gulf States and Saudi Arabia have already pumped billions into the country to stabilize it. Furthermore, he can count on Support from the military as well as the civil servant sector, which was largely recruited under ex-president Mubarak.

While members of the military and bureaucrats are hoping for more influence, many who benefited from the original revolution in 2011 are vanishing into prison. Ever since the fall of the country's first freely elected president on July 3, 2013, the government in Cairo has taken a harsh course of action against him and his supporters. The trial against ex-president Morsi is still ongoing.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Muslim Brotherhood members have been sentenced to death or long prison terms. The government has listed the conservative Islamic organization as a terrorist group and banned it. Thousands of the group's supporters - including all of its leaders - were arrested shortly after their protests in the summer of 2013. Independent opposition figures were also sent to jail.

Aside from addressing the country's severe economic problems, el-Sissi is also out to quell rebellion. Islamist attacks and fighting have paralyzed the country for months. But Egyptians don't seem to expect a miracle from the former general on this point. That's suggested by their low participation in the recent vote - just 44 percent - which was much lower than expected.

The Muslim Brotherhood are the new president's chief opponents. After Hosni Mubarak was ousted, the group won not just the presidential polls with Mohammed Morsi, but also all other recent elections. Even during the summer of 2013, when many took to the streets to protest against President Morsi's politics, the Muslim Brotherhood was also able to mobilize hundreds of thousands of supporters.

Ex-president Hosni Mubarak is playing no role in the power struggle. Although suffering from severe health problems, he was sentenced by a Cairo court to three years in jail and still has to answer for the deaths of more than 800 demonstrators during protests in 2011 - charges that could result in the death penalty for him.

Hosni Mubarak was president for nearly 30 years. Before him, only members of the military had occupied the country's highest office since the founding of the republic in 1953. El-Sissi's election continues this tradition, which also manifests itself in another way: Up to 40 percent of Egypt's economy is driven by entrepreneurs who are connected with the military.