Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has appointed 100 members to the Senate, utilizing his constitutional authority to designate one-third of the upper house following the official election results, as stipulated by Law No. 141 of 2020.
The presidential decree, published in the Official Gazette, features a diverse mix of political, intellectual, and cultural figures. The appointees include the head of the Mostaqbal Watan parliamentary bloc, as well as leaders from several other parties, including Tagammu, Al-Gil, Free Egyptians, Nasserist, and Al-Masryeen. Notable individuals appointed also include the son of the late Dr. Ahmed Omar Hashim, former president of Al-Azhar University, and the actor Yasser Galal.
The decision ensures strong female representation, with 15 women appointed to the Senate. Among them are Sahar Nasr, the former Minister of Investment; Miral Al-Haridy, former deputy chair of the parliamentary industry committee; and several academics specializing in media and international relations, such as Dalia Al-Etreby, Amani Fakher, Ghada Al-Badawi, and Nourhan Al-Sheikh. This exceeds the legal requirement that at least 10 percent of the Senate seats be reserved for women.
Article 28 of the Senate Law mandates that appointed members must meet all eligibility criteria for the institution and must not have contested the elections unsuccessfully.
Senate elections were held last August, and parliamentary elections are scheduled for late November. The final composition of the Egyptian Senate marks a new phase in the country’s institutional renewal.
MK/ac/sf/lb/abj/APA