Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El Sisi announced this week he would stand again as a candidate in presidential elections scheduled for March. El-Sisi won 97 percent of the vote in 2014, but more than half of eligible voters boycotted the election. Here is Adel EL Mahrouky with more.

It's now official, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah eL-Sisi is running for a second presidential term. He made the announcement on Friday, ending a three days conference that presented his achievements during the past four years.

ABDEL FATTAH EL-SISI EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT "When I recall the decisive moments we've been through in the past years. I remember the immense challenges that faces our nation, and the aspirations we want for our country. I find myself standing once again confused because of my national conscious. Therefore, I ask you, hoping that you would accept my presidential candidacy for a second term."

His 2018 bid was highly expected, nonetheless the reaction action was huge to his announcement, reflecting his nationwide popularity. The next day, thousands rushed to notary offices to register their signatures of support for the President.

AHMED MURABET RESIDENT, GIZA "I went to a different notary office it was extremely crowded. I came to this one, it too was very crowded. They must create bigger spaces for people to register their signatures of Support because President eL-Sisi's popularity is much bigger than the capacity of these offices."

The Elections Authority says more than half a million citizens have supported 23 different candidates so far. The Egyptian President seems to be getting the vast majority of these signatures of Support, while the leftist rights lawyer Khaled Ali may come in second place.

AHMED EL SAHHAR RESIDENT, GIZA "I am supporting Khaled Ali to keep the hopes of the youth, to me he represents January 25 uprising, he opposed the Red Sea Islands deal. We had a revolution in 2011 so that we can elect a President every four years. It's why Ali's candidacy is important. I'm sure he won't win. We will be looking for the votes he'll be getting because to us, it'll be an indication of the opposition size in Egypt."

The Egyptian Elections Authority is opening its doors to accept candidates application from January 20, until the 29th.

ADEL EL MAHROUKY CAIRO, EGYPT "On Saturday the Elections authority has opened the candidates' registration door, yet no one has applied yet for the 2018 race. President eL-Sisi isn't facing any challenges to meet his application requirements. It's Khaled Ali who may come in short. He must gather 25 thousand signatures of support this week, and that has become his first test to prove his popularity. AMA CGTN CA."