Egypt Launches 2025 Election Cycle

Egypt has begun its 2025 election cycle with Senate voting, amid concerns over limited opposition, reduced judicial oversight, and a political climate favouring pro-government parties following President Sisi’s 2023 re-election.

Egypt has officially begun its 2025 election cycle, commencing with Senate elections as overseas Egyptians cast their votes ahead of domestic polling scheduled for 4 and 5 August.

The elections will determine the composition of the 300-member Senate, with seats distributed across three categories: direct individual contests, party lists, and appointments made by the president. At least 10% of the chamber’s seats are constitutionally reserved for women. Preliminary results are expected to be announced by 12 August.

This marks the first phase of a broader electoral process, with parliamentary elections due later this year—most likely in October or November. The upcoming legislative polls will be conducted under a closed-list electoral system and, for the first time, will proceed without full judicial oversight, a change that has raised alarm among rights advocates and political analysts.

Observers have voiced growing concern over the country’s restrictive political climate, with opposition participation seen as limited and the playing field heavily skewed in favour of pro-government parties. These developments follow President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s sweeping re-election in 2023, which many international watchdogs criticised for lacking competitiveness and transparency.

Rights groups have pointed to a broader pattern of repression, citing tightened control over media, the suppression of dissent, and the imprisonment of political opponents. The absence of full judicial supervision, they argue, undermines the credibility of the electoral process and could further erode public trust in democratic institutions.

Despite such criticisms, the government has framed the election cycle as a demonstration of national stability and political maturity, highlighting female representation quotas as a sign of progress. State media have focused on logistical preparations, voter outreach efforts, and high turnout expectations among overseas voters.

The Senate, reinstated in 2020 as the upper chamber of parliament under constitutional amendments, primarily serves an advisory role, reviewing draft legislation and offering non-binding opinions on key national matters.

As Egypt moves forward with this crucial political calendar, international attention will likely remain fixed on the transparency of the process, the space granted to opposition voices, and the role of civil society in ensuring fair and inclusive elections.