Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has issued a presidential decree calling on Egypt’s House of Representatives to convene for the opening of the first ordinary session of the third legislative term, according to an official announcement. The inaugural session is scheduled to take place on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m.
The move formally marks the start of a new parliamentary chapter following the completion of recent electoral and appointment procedures. The opening session is expected to include procedural steps to launch the legislative agenda for the new term, including the swearing-in of members and the organization of parliamentary business.
In preparation for the new legislative cycle, President El-Sisi recently issued Presidential Decree No. 16 of 2026, appointing 28 members to the House of Representatives. The appointments were made in accordance with constitutional provisions that allow the president to appoint a limited number of MPs to ensure balanced representation and specialized expertise within parliament.
The list of appointed members includes a group of distinguished figures and experts from a wide range of professional backgrounds, reflecting an emphasis on technical knowledge and policy experience. Notably, women account for 50 percent of the presidential appointments, underscoring ongoing efforts to strengthen female representation in Egypt’s legislative institutions.
The opening of the new legislative term comes at a time when parliament is expected to address a broad agenda of economic, social, and legislative priorities, as the government continues to implement reform programs and respond to regional and global developments.
The House of Representatives plays a central role in Egypt’s political system, with responsibilities that include legislating, approving the state budget, and exercising oversight over the executive branch. The launch of the third legislative term is therefore seen as a key milestone in the country’s parliamentary and political process.
President El-Sisi Appoints 28 Members to Egypt’s House of Representatives
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has issued Presidential Decree No. 16 of 2026 appointing 28 members to Egypt’s House of Representatives, completing the formation of the chamber with a total of 596 lawmakers.
The newly appointed members include a diverse group of former ministers, senior legal figures, academics, political party officials, and business leaders. Women make up half of the presidential appointees, with 14 female members included in the list, reflecting continued efforts to enhance female representation in legislative institutions.
Among the most prominent appointees is former Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, alongside Ashraf Abdel Hamid El-Sheihi, former Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research. The list also includes constitutional law scholar Salah El-Din Fawzy Mohamed Farag, former head of the Central Auditing Organization Hisham Abdel Salam Badawy, former head of the State Council Adel Fahim Mohamed Ezzab, and Amr Mostafa Hassanein El-Wardani, Secretary of Fatwa at Egypt’s Dar Al-Ifta.
The appointments further feature senior academics from leading Egyptian universities, including Abdel Khaleq Abdel Rahman Awad Ibrahim, assistant professor at the Faculty of Regional and Urban Planning at Cairo University; Iyad Saeed Suleiman Ouda, head of the Electrical Engineering Department at Suez Canal University; Adela Mohamed Abdel Salam Ragab, professor of economics at the Faculty of Economics and Political Science at Cairo University; and Thoraya Ahmed El-Badawi, dean of the Faculty of Mass Communication at Cairo University.
Several figures with experience in public administration and diplomacy were also appointed, including Ambassador Naela Gabr, head of the National Coordinating Committee for Combating and Preventing Illegal Migration and Human Trafficking. The list further includes Shereen Reda Abdel Qawi Tayel, a former member of parliament, alongside senior university leaders and medical professionals such as Manal Hamdy El-Sayed, head of pediatric departments at Ain Shams University, and Hanaa El-Obeisi, dean of Al-Azhar University’s Faculty of Medicine for Girls in Cairo.
Business and technology sectors are also represented, most notably by Mirna Essam El-Din Mohamed Aref, General Manager of Microsoft Egypt, and businessman Saeed Gamal Mohamed Abdel Fattah. Political party representation among the appointees includes figures affiliated with Future of the Nation Party, Republican People’s Party, and Homeland Defenders Party.
Additional appointees named in the decree include Yasser Arafat Mohamed Ali El-Araby, Khaled Mohamed Ahmed Abdel Rahman, Sherif Basha Seif Beshay, Ahmed Alaa Mohamed Fayed, Marian Magdy Ragheb Qaldas, Noha Abdel Rahman Abdel Shafi Abdel Rahman, Yara Effat Hassan Youssef, and Aida Ismail Osman Ismail.
Commenting on his appointment, Sameh Shoukry told local media that the decision represents a responsibility and a trust he values highly, expressing hope that he will be able to serve the country effectively. Former minister Ashraf El-Sheihi also described his appointment as a significant honor and responsibility, pledging to work diligently to live up to the confidence placed in him.
The presidential appointments are intended to strengthen the House of Representatives by adding specialized expertise and professional experience, as parliament begins the first session of its third legislative term amid a broad legislative and policy agenda.
