Women MPs fill a quarter of Egyptian Parliament

A quarter of the MPs in Egypt’s newly elected Parliament are women,

The increase in female MPs is thanks to a quota set by constitutional amendments introduced in 2019 and ratified in a referendum.

The new parliament surprised observers by choosing a former head of the country’s Supreme Constitutional Court as its Speaker, replacing government supporter Ali Abdel Aal.

In a vote held on Tuesday during the first session of the 596-seat House of Deputies, Hanafy El Gebaly won 508 votes.

Mr Abdel Aal did not run for the Speaker’s job. He briefly took his seat in the chamber, and left immediately after he was sworn in as a deputy.

Throughout his five years as Speaker, Mr Abdel Aal was an ardent supporter of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, showing little tolerance for criticism of government policies.

In an address to the legislators, Mr El Gebaly urged MPs to show moderation.

“I am sure you realise that the effectiveness of your oversight hinges on being balanced,” he said. “It should not be too lenient, be extremist or tend towards exaggeration or understatement.”

The legislature was elected late last year. Mirroring the make-up of its forerunner, the chamber is dominated by supporters of Mr El Sisi and has a tiny minority of opposition legislators.

Of the 596 deputies, former army general Mr El Sisi appointed 28, including retired footballers Hossam Ghali, Hazem Imam and Mohammed Omar and members of Egypt’s Christian minority.