Egyptian parliamentary election, 2015

Egyptian parliamentary election, 2015
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Egyptian parliamentary elections to the House of Representatives were expected take place in March and April 2015.[1] The first phase would have occurred from 21–22 March for expatriates and from 22–23 March for Egyptian residents.[1] The second phase would have taken place from 25–26 April for expatriates and from 26–27 April for residents of Egypt.[1] The elections were delayed after the Supreme Constitutional Court ruled on 1 March 2015 that the law on electoral constituencies was unconstitutional because it did not guarantee fair representation; the law needs to be rewritten in order to comply with the verdict.[2] The Supreme Constitutional Court ruled on 7 March 2015 that the law banning dual citizens from running in the election was unconstitutional.[3] Egyptian prime minister Ibrahim Mahlab has stated that the elections would take place in May or June 2015, [4] but Parliamentary Affairs minister Ibrahim El-Heneidy has stated that it will not take place until after Ramadan, which starts on 18 June and continues to 17 July.[5]

Background

The parliament will be made up of 567 seats, with 420 seats elected through the individual candidacy system, 120 elected through party lists and 27 selected by the president; the electoral law was approved by president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on 22 December 2014.[6] Seat allocations are as follows: 56 seats for women, 16 seats for young people, 8 for disabled people and 24 for Copts.[7] Various parties have criticized the laws governing how the elections will be held.[8][9] Nevertheless, the law was approved by former president Adly Mansour on 5 June 2014.[10] Candidates for parliament can submit their applications from 8 February 2015[11] until 19 February 2015.[12] Campaigning for the first stage of elections will take place from 28 February 2015 until 20 March 2015[13] while campaigning for the second stage starts on 3 April 2015 and ends on 24 April 2015.[14] Almost 16,000 officials will keep an eye on polling places during the election.[15]

Parties

Political coalitions

A coalition of independents calling themselves the 25-30 Alliance will run as well.[16] The Call of Egypt alliance will run.[17] The Egyptian Front will run.[18] A list called For the Love of Egypt will compete.[19] The Independent Current Coalition (which is composed of 36 parties)[20] will run.[21] Various Islamic dissident groups will run as the Islamic Alliance to Support Egypt.[22] An alliance called Long Live Egypt will run.[23] The Reawakening of Egypt alliance will run.[24] The leftist Social Justice Coalition will compete.[25]

Running lists and blocs

Rules for media coverage of elections by SCE

Boycotts

The Popular Current Party is not running.[51] The Strong Egypt Party announced on 4 February 2015 that it will boycott the election.[43] The Homeland Party will not participate.[52] The Socialist Popular Alliance Party announced on 6 February 2015 that it would not participate.[53] The Revolutionary Socialists will boycott the election.[54] The Constitution Party will not participate.[55] The Bread and Freedom Party will not participate.[56] The Building and Development Party announced on 9 February 2015 that it will not run in the election.[57] The Al-Wasat Party made a similar announcement on 10 February 2015.[57] The Justice Party announced on 15 February 2015 that it will not participate.[58] The Freedom Egypt Party announced on 18 February 2015 that it will not run in the election.[59]

Opinion polls

A May 2013 PewResearch Poll found that 52% of Egyptians have a favorable view of the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) (44% unfavorable), 45% have a favorable view of the National Salvation Front (NSF) (52% unfavorable), and 40% have a favorable view of the Al-Nour Party (52% unfavorable).[60] A May 2013 Baseera Poll found that over one third of Egyptians have never heard of the NSF. Of those who did hear about it, 33% supported it and 57% did not.[61]

A June 2013 Zogby Research Services poll found that 26% of Egyptians have confidence in the FJP, 29% have confidence in the Al-Nour Party, 22% have confidence in the NSF, and 25% have confidence in the April 6 Youth Movement. The study found significant overlap between NSF and April 6 and between Al-Nour and FJP. 30% of Egyptians have confidence in FJP and/or Al-Nour; 34% have confidence in NSF and/or April 6. 39% of Egyptians, the survey found, express no confidence in any of the four major political groups. The political opinions of these 39%, however, for the most part match those of April 6/NSF supporters.[62]

An opinion poll done in September 2013 by Zogby found that the Tamarod movement had the highest level of confidence at 35%; the FJP had the second-highest level of confidence at 34%.[63] There were declines in confidence for the Nour Party and the April 6 Movement compared to the previous poll taken in July 2013.[63] The percentage of people who felt confidence in no political party decreased to 17% in September 2013.[63]

Opinion polls in Egypt are, however, unreliable, having failed to predict the outcome of the 2012 presidential elections.[64]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Voting in Egypt's parliamentary elections to begin 21 March". Ahram Online. 8 January 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  2. ↑ "Egypt’s March parliamentary elections on hold: HEC Spokesman". Ahram Online. 1 March 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  3. ↑ "Law banning dual-nationality Egyptians from parliament unconstitutional". Ahram Online. 7 March 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  4. ↑ "PM: Parliamentary elections in May or June". Egypt Independent. 15 March 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  5. ↑ http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/128388/Egypt/Politics-/No-Egypt-election-before-Ramadan,-says-minister.aspx
  6. ↑ "Sisi ratifies Egypt electoral constituencies law". Aswat Masriya. 22 December 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  7. ↑ "Sisi ratifies electoral constituencies’ law". Cairo Post. 23 December 2014. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  8. ↑ "Criticism over parliamentary elections law". Cairo Post. 2 June 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  9. ↑ "Amendments to parliamentary elections law draw criticism from political parties". Cairo Post. 5 June 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  10. ↑ "President Mansour signs into law parliamentary elections legislation". Ahram Online. 5 June 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  11. ↑ "Parliamentary applications to be accepted from 8 February". Daily News Egypt. 29 January 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  12. ↑ "Egypt extends period for parliament candidacy registration". Ahram Online. 15 February 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  13. ↑ "Egypt's party candidates struggle to meet parliamentary registration deadline". Ahram Online. 18 February 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  14. ↑ "HEC: Nominees for parliamentary elections granted 2 more days to apply". Egypt Independent. 15 February 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  15. ↑ "Committee sets rules for media coverage of elections". Daily News Egypt. 10 January 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  16. ↑ "Egypt: New independent alliance prepares to fight parliamentary elections". Asharq Al-Awsat. 21 July 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "السبت..تدشين ائتلاف"نداء مصر"على غرار"نداء تونس"لخوض منافسة النواب". Youm7. 23 December 2014.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Egyptian Front Coalition: the widest political alliance facing Islamists, Cairo Post, 18 August 2014, retrieved 14 November 2014
  19. ↑ "New ‘For Egypt’ list launched to run in parliamentary elections". Egypt Independent. 5 February 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  20. ↑ "الجنزورى: تيار الاستقلال مؤهل للحصول على 50% منمقاعد القوائم الحزبية". Youm7. 19 October 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "'For the Love of Egypt' electoral list leaves political parties divided". Ahram Online. 11 February 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 "ننشر تفاصيل تحالف "إسلاميون لدعم مصر".. يضم منشقين عن "القاعدة".. وعرض إخواني بمليون جنيه لتمويل قائمته في الانتخابات". El-Balad. 18 February 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 ""تحيا مصر الشعبي": لن نخوض انتخابات البرلمان على القوائم وسندعم مرشحين فردي". El-Balad. 19 February 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 "Gearing up for the polls". Al-Ahram Weekly. 1 January 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 "Leftist parties form coalition for parliamentary elections". Egypt Independent. 12 July 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  26. ↑ "تحالف "25- 30" ينفى وقف أنشطته الانتخابية.. ويؤكد: لن نؤيد قائمة صحوة". El Balad. 3 March 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  27. ↑ "قيادات بالجماعة الإسلامية تقرر المنافسة في معركة "النواب" على "فردي الصعيد"". Shorouk News. 29 December 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  28. ↑ ""حزب عنان" بعد الحكم بصحة تأسيسه: جاهزون للمنافسة في البرلمان.. وندرس التحالفات الوطنية". Shorouk News. 31 January 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  29. ↑ ""حراس الثورة" يعلن انضمامه بشكل رسمي إلى تحالف "نداء مصر"". El-Balad. 17 February 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  30. ↑ "100 مرشح يتنافسون على 4 مقاعد بمجلس الشعب في محافظة بورسعيد". El-Balad. 19 February 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  31. ↑ ""الكرامة": لا استقالات بالمكتب السياسي للحزب.. وسندفع بأكثر من 50 مرشحا فرديا". El-Balad. 13 February 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  32. ↑ "Setting the boundaries". Al-Ahram Weekly. 2 October 2014. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  33. ↑ "Dostor members break away, form new Egyptian Hope Party for elections". Cairo Post. 8 July 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  34. ↑ ""فى حب مصر": اعتماد 4 منسقين لقوائم القطاعات الأربعة و10 أحزاب مشاركة". Youm7. 21 February 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  35. ↑ "FJP trial adjourned to August 4". Cairo Post. 21 June 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  36. ↑ ""تيار الاستقلال" يلتقي ممثلي القبائل بسيناء الثلاثاء". Al Masry Al Youm. 27 October 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  37. ↑ "أحمد الفضالى يعلن انضمام تكتل القوى الثورية لتيار الاستقلال". Youm7. 15 November 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  38. ↑ ""تحيا مصر" يعلن خطته لخوض الانتخابات البرلمانية غدًا". El-Balad. 9 January 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  39. ↑ "Coptic activists criticize Copts allied with Nour Party for elections". Egypt Independent. 15 February 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  40. ↑ ""صحوة مصر" فى لحظة اختيار.. اجتماع الخميس لوضع الرتوش النهائية على القوائم.. عمار على حسن: لسنا أصحاب مصلحة ونقدم الأكفأ.. ورامى جلال: التيار الديمقراطى و25-30 والكتلة الوطنية ومستقبل وطن "معنا"". Youm7. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  41. ↑ ""الاشتراكى المصرى" يشارك بمرشحيه كمستقلين على قائمة "عبد الجليل مصطفى"". Youm7. 4 January 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  42. ↑ ""الشيوعي المصري": قائمة عبد الجليل مصطفى الأقرب لنا للانضمام إليها.. وندعو قوى اليسار للالتفاف حولها". El-Balad. 4 January 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 "Islamist, leftist parties to boycott elections; coalitions yet to formalise". Daily News Egypt. 4 February 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  44. ↑ "صحوة مصر» تنافس على ثلاث قوائم انتخابية". Al Shorouk. 19 February 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  45. ↑ ""الإصلاح والنهضة": قدمنا مقترح "القائمة النسبية" للجنةإصلاح البنية التشريعية". Youm7. 17 March 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  46. ↑ "12 حزبا تدشن ائتلاف "الأحزاب المصرية" لخوض الانتخابات وتحقيق أهداف الثورة". Ahram. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  47. ↑ "Political Parties and Movements". Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  48. ↑ "Social Justice Coalition members increase to 27". Daily News Egypt. 1 September 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  49. ↑ ""التجمع": نستعد لخوض الانتخابات البرلمانية على 35 مقعدًا فرديًا". Youm7. 17 March 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  50. ↑ http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2015/01/10/committee-sets-rules-media-coverage-elections/
  51. ↑ "حزب التيار الشعبي يعلن عدم مشاركته في الانتخابات البرلمانية المقبلة". Shorouk News. 5 January 2015. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  52. ↑ "حزب الوطن يقرر عدم المشاركة فى الانتخابات البرلمانية". Shorouk News. 6 February 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  53. ↑ ""التحالف الشعبى": عدم استجابة الدولة لمطالبنا وراء مقاطعة الانتخابات". El-Balad. 6 February 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  54. ↑ "Egypt's Socialist Alliance boycotts elections, Constitution Party mulls its options". Ahram Online. 7 February 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  55. ↑ "Dostour party to abstain from participating in upcoming elections - statement". Aswat Masriya. 7 February 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  56. ↑ ""العيش والحرية" يقاطع الانتخابات البرلمانية". El-Balad. 7 February 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  57. ↑ 57.0 57.1 "2 further Islamist parties boycott elections". Daily News Egypt. 10 February 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  58. ↑ "حزب العدل يقرر عدم المشاركة في الانتخابات البرلمانية". El-Balad. 15 February 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  59. ↑ "حزب مصر الحرية يعلن عدم مشاركته في الانتخابات البرلمانية". El-Balad. 18 February 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  60. ↑ "Egyptians Increasingly Glum". Pew Research. 16 May 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  61. ↑ "Press release on the poll conducted by Baseera" (PDF). Baseera. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  62. ↑ http://www.aaiusa.org/page/-/Polls/EgyptianAttitudesTowardMB_%20June2013.pdf
  63. ↑ 63.0 63.1 63.2 "Egyptian attitudes September 2013" (PDF). Zogby. 28 September 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  64. ↑ "Egypt election results show opinion poll failures". Ahram Online. 5 June 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2014.