State media in Egypt quote General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi as saying he will run for president if the people request it and the military support him.
General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi during a live TV broadcast. Photo: AFP / Egyptian TV (file)
"If I nominate myself, there must be a popular demand, and a mandate from my army," the Al-Ahram newspaper quoted him as telling Egyptian officials.
Al-Ahram reported the audience broke into applause at the comments and chanted "we are all with you".
The general feels he could not stand aside if there was palpable demand for him to run, an official told AFP.
A referendum is to be held on 14-15 January on a new constitution, the first in a series of polls that the government says will restore elected rule in the wake of the Army's ousting of President Mohammed Morsi on 3 July, 2013.
The BBC reports General Sisi is seen as the man pulling the strings behind the interim government and Egyptians have little doubt he will stand in the presidential elections which are due this year.
A correspondent says his popular support is high enough to all but assure him a mandate from the people.
Most of the leading former candidates who lost to Mr Morsi in the 2012 election have said they would stand aside if General Sisi chose to run.