Roughly 68 million Egyptians are heading to the polls this Monday and Tuesday to elect 200 members of the Senate, in a vote widely seen as lacking suspense due to the strong grip of President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi's government on political life.
Egypt reinstated the Senate in 2019 through a constitutional referendum, having previously abolished it in 2013 during the post-revolution restructuring © Mena Today
Roughly 68 million Egyptians are heading to the polls this Monday and Tuesday to elect 200 members of the Senate, in a vote widely seen as lacking suspense due to the strong grip of President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi's government on political life.
Half of the seats in the upper chamber are being filled through elections, while the other 100 will be appointed directly by President Sissi, a former army chief who came to power after ousting Islamist leader Mohamed Morsi in 2013.
Campaigning has been dominated by the pro-government "National List for Egypt" coalition, led by the National Front (NF) party and backed by wealthy businessmen close to Sissi. The coalition includes 13 political groups, including former opposition parties such as the Wafd and Tagammu, now aligned with the regime.
Voters received SMS reminders to cast their ballots, notably from the Hamat el Watan party. The elections are held under a mixed system, with 100 seats contested by independents and the remaining 100 by party lists across four large districts. At least 10% of seats are reserved for women.
Egypt reinstated the Senate in 2019 through a constitutional referendum, having previously abolished it in 2013 during the post-revolution restructuring.
Results from the first round are expected on August 12. A runoff is scheduled later in August, if needed, and final results will be published on September 4.
While authorities highlight a "national dialogue" with opposition groups, human rights organizations report that tens of thousands of political prisoners remain behind bars—claims the government denies.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has slightly revised Egypt’s economic growth forecast for the fiscal year ending in June 2025, raising it to 4 percent, up from its previous estimate of 3.8 percent, according to the July 2025 update of its World Economic Outlook (WEO) report.
During a high-level conference in New York centered on the renewed global push for the recognition of a Palestinian state, Egypt surprised many observers by issuing a clear and firm call for the disarmament of Hamas, the militant organization that rules the Gaza Strip and is widely held responsible for the ongoing conflict with Israel.
In a bold stride to reshape its position on the global mining map, Egypt has inked two significant agreements with leading international mining firms—part of a broader strategy to unlock the nation’s mineral wealth and diversify its economy beyond traditional sectors.
To make this website run properly and to improve your experience, we use cookies. For more detailed information, please check our Cookie Policy.
Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.
