Egypt holds second phase of parliamentary elections amid scrutiny

Egyptians are casting ballots in the second phase of parliamentary elections, a process unfolding under heightened scrutiny after significant irregularities marred the first round. An estimated 34 to 35 million eligible voters across 13 key governorates, including the capital Cairo and Delta regions, will determine the fate of 1,316 individual candidates .

Broad Electoral Participation

The two-day domestic vote, which began on November 24, is organized across 73 electoral districts and over 5,200 subcommittees . This phase follows voting by the Egyptian diaspora, which concluded on November 22 . The National Elections Authority (NEA) has reiterated its commitment to a transparent process, urging citizens to participate to ensure the voters' will is accurately reflected .

A Shadow from the First Phase

This round occurs in the wake of a seismic political event. Following widespread reports of violations—including vote-buying, counting discrepancies, and barred candidate agents—President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi took the rare step of publicly intervening . He called on the NEA to review complaints rigorously, leading to the annulment of results in 19 of the 70 first-phase constituencies, one of the broadest cancellations in recent history .

The Political Stakes

The new House of Representatives will serve a five-year term and is seen as a crucial body for the country's political future . Analysts suggest that this parliament could play a decisive role in any future constitutional amendments, including those pertaining to presidential term limits, as President El-Sisi is constitutionally required to conclude his current term in 2030 . The electoral system itself, where half the seats are effectively guaranteed to a single pro-government list, has been criticized for producing a legislature with limited political diversity .