Presidential hopeful Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said the armed forces run its economic activities in a way that achieves its needs, denying that military would represent a parallel economy competing with private sector.
During an interview aired on privately-owned Al-Hayah, Dream and Al-Nahar TV channels on Sunday, Sisi, the former defense minister, said, “it’s rumored that army’s economy represent 20-30 percent and even 60 percent (of the national economy). This is untrue…Did the army take more budget in 10 months? No.”
Sisi also denied that his election would lead to a return of the police state saying,”No one can do this again with Egyptians.”
Observers believe Sisi enjoys high chances of winning the coming presidential elections slated for 26 and 27 May based on the sweeping popularity he gained upon the ouster of Islamist President Mohamed Morsy in July 2013.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
