El-Sissi the strong

It was the announcement people on Egypt's Tahrir Square had been awaiting to hear for hours.

"Abdel-Fattah Saeed Hussein Khalil el-Sissi, known as Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, received 23 million votes," an election official said.

The declaration finally makes the former military head Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi the official president of Egypt. The election's result - a foregone conclusion for months - is now reality.

A feeling of relief seemed to overcome the people gathered at Tahrir Square Tuesday (03.05.2014). They danced and sang in celebration and held their arms in the air forming a "c" with their hands - the sign for "Sissi."

Egypt's new president is traditionally announced at Egypt's largest square, providing a festive atmosphere for the city's people to welcome their new leader. It's also the way now-deposed former President Mohammed Morsi was greeted before taking office. This celebration, however, is different, according to people at Tahrir Square who said there were more young people taking part in the celebration.

'Egypt needs a strong leader'

The crowd represents a cross-section of Egyptian society - or at least of the 23 million people who voted for el-Sissi and those who see him as the savior of the nation. Mohammad, one of el-Sissi's supporters who made the trip to Cairo from Mansoura to hear the election results, said life in Egypt will improve under the former military leaders. While admitting that he voted for Morsi in 2012, Mohammad said it was a mistake and that el-Sissi's military background would benefit the country.

"Egypt needs a strong leader - not someone like Morsi," he said, holding his hands as if playing with an imaginary video game controller. "Morsi was like a PlayStation with other people controlling him."

Mohammed said he also took part in the protests on Tahrir Square that removed dictator Hosni Mubarak from office. Mubarak, another military man, often imprisoned people critical of him. Despite such concerns being issued abroad, Mohammed said he is not concerned el-Sissi will crack down on Egyptians' rights. Pointing to the crowd at Tahrir Square, he said everyone has the right to say what they think without fear.

Fear of attacks

The square was only half-full on Tuesday night. The heat could have kept people away. That was the reason many people did not vote, according to el-Sissi's campaign team. Turnout for the election, which was unexpectedly extended to include a third day of voting, was just over 47 percent.

The military and police were also present on the square in central Cairo out of fear of a possible terrorist attack. Tanks and barbed wire blocked access to the square and people who wanted to attend the election celebration had their pockets searched and were forced to enter Tahrir Square through metal detectors. There was a palpable fear that the hate-filled people at Tahrir Square would seek revenge against former leaders.

A common enemy in the Muslim Brotherhood

Safaa, a woman in a black veil in her 50s, began nearly every sentence with "The Muslim Brotherhood - they're terrorists!" Safaa carried a banner with a photo of her son Amr and the story of how he was killed. The banner said members of the Muslim Brotherhood shot him at Tahrir Square 313 days ago. The Brotherhood had come to the square to attack anyone who didn't adhere to their beliefs. Safaa said she voted for el-Sissi.

"Let me tell you, el-Sissi, do not reconcile with the Muslim Brotherhood when it comes to the corpses of our sons and their blood," she said as the people around her nod in agreement. "They are martyrs - they paid for Egypt with their blood."

There was a sense of unity on Tahrir Square. The new president would have to confront the Muslim Brotherhood, provide security for the country and improve the struggling economy. How el-Sissi can achieve these goals remains unclear, but the people on Tahrir Square said they don't need an answer tonight.

No real alternative

Islam stood noticeably apart from the other people on the square. He was one of very few people not celebrating or waving a flag or wearing an el-Sissi t-shirt. Shaking his head, he said he couldn't believe what his fellow Egyptians were doing. He took part in the 2011 revolution in Cairo and admitted that many mistakes were made.

"For many people, the years after the revolution and under Morsi were worse than the era under Mubarak. When people have seen the worst. then a bad situation looks like the better choice to them," he said, referring to Hamdeen Sabahi, who ran against el-Sissi in the election and earned just 775,000 votes, as no real alternative for Egyptians.

In all, 96.91 percent of Egyptian voters cast their ballots to put a new strongman in the president's office. A military man who they think will take a hard line - much like Mubarak did at the beginning of his presidency.