Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egypt’s National Elections Authority (NEA) has acknowledged an unexpectedly high number of complaints concerning the conduct of the first phase of the 2025 parliamentary elections, prompting a sweeping review of alleged violations and raising questions about the integrity of the electoral process.
According to comments reported by RT, NEA Executive Director Ahmed Bendary said formal grievances were filed from roughly 40 of the 70 electoral districts included in the first phase, a proportion he described as highly unusual. He noted that the NEA’s board is holding continuous sessions to examine each complaint, whether submitted through official channels or reported by the media and social networks.
Bendary emphasized that decisions will be grounded in verified evidence and proper documentation. He stressed that the authority would not hesitate to order partial reruns in specific districts, or even annul the entire vote in a given area, if a “fundamental flaw” affecting the will of voters is proven. The core mission, he said, is to protect voter rights and safeguard a transparent process that preserves Egypt’s image as “a beacon of democracy.”
The unusually high number of contested districts has intensified public scrutiny, especially in competitive constituencies where allegations of irregularities surged shortly after polls closed.
Presidential directives intensify the review
The NEA’s renewed commitment to review all grievances follows direct intervention by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who responded to public demands for an investigation into reported irregularities. Sisi posted a message on his official social media accounts urging the authority to examine every appeal with “thoroughness” and to issue decisions that reflect “the true will of the voters.”
Judge Hazem Badawy, head of the NEA, echoed that position, declaring that “no voter will enter the Egyptian Parliament except by the will of the voters.” He affirmed that any proven violation in a single polling station would constitute valid grounds to invalidate the results for an entire district and trigger a re-election.
Sisi also urged the authority to enhance transparency by ensuring that each candidate’s representative receives an official copy of vote tallies from local sub-committees, a measure long requested by some opposition figures and independent observers. He advised the NEA “not to hesitate in making the right decision,” including canceling an entire stage of voting or specific districts if the actual voter intent cannot be reliably established.
A pivotal test for electoral oversight
The investigations now underway mark one of the most extensive election-related reviews in recent cycles. While Egyptian elections frequently draw criticism from opposition groups and international observers, the scale of formal complaints acknowledged by the NEA suggests significant pressure on the authority to demonstrate independence and transparency.
Officials have not yet disclosed a timeline for final rulings, but the NEA has insisted that resolving the complaints swiftly and thoroughly is essential to preserving public trust. With subsequent phases of the parliamentary elections still ahead, the handling of these cases could shape both domestic confidence in the process and Egypt’s broader political climate in the months to come.
