Egyptians will vote on May 26-27 in a presidential election that Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is expected to win easily, meaning the ex-army chief who deposed Islamist president Mohamed Morsi could be sworn in as head of state by early June.

Widely seen as Egypt’s de facto leader since he deposed Morsi after mass protests against his rule, Sisi enjoys backing from supporters who see him as Egypt’s saviour. But he is viewed by the Islamist opposition as the mastermind of a coup that ignited the worst internal strife in Egypt’s modern history.

It will be the second time Egyptians have voted in a presidential election in fewer than two years.

But in contrast to the 2012 vote won by Morsi, this election follows a fierce government crackdown on dissent that has included both Islamists and secular-minded democracy activists.

The Brotherhood, Egypt’s best organised political party until last year, has been banned and driven underground.

So far, the only other candidate is leftist politician Hamdeen Sabahi, who came third in the 2012 election that was contested by more than a dozen politicians across the political spectrum.

Sisi had said he would tackle militant attacks that spiralled since Morsi was toppled

With Sisi expected to win comfortably, the vote is not likely to go to a second round. The result of the first round will be announced no later than June 5, the organising committee said at a news conference to outline the timeline.

Sisi stepped down as defence minister and army chief in order to announce his candidacy last Wednesday. He has been lionized by state- and privately-run media that are overwhelmingly loyal to the army-backed government.

A Sisi victory will mark a return to the days when Egypt’s presidency was held by men from the military – a pattern briefly interrupted during Morsi’s year in office.

Parliamentary elections are expected to follow the presidential vote, though a date is not yet set.

Egypt’s next president faces huge challenges including a reviving an economy hit by more than three years of political turmoil.

Announcing his intention to run last week, Sisi said he would tackle militant attacks that have spiralled since Morsi was toppled.

In the latest violence, a soldier was killed yesterday in an attack on the bus he was driving in the town of Al-Arish in the Sinai Peninsula.

Figures released by the Egyptian foreign ministry on Saturday said 496 people, 439 of them soldiers and policemen, were killed in what it described as terrorist attacks since last summer.