Index

Egypt

Egypt is having two elections this year: Presidential on 7 September 2005 and Parliamentary in three phases on 9 November, 20 November and 1 December 2005.

Flag Description

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the national emblem (a gold Eagle of Saladin facing the hoist side with a shield superimposed on its chest above a scroll bearing the name of the country in Arabic) centered in the white band; design is based on the Arab Liberation flag.

Election Type: Presidential

Election date: 7 September 2005 (last national referendum held 26 September 1999)

Number of registered voters: 31 826 248 (as at September 2005)

Compulsory voting: Yes

Government

Type: Republic

Chief of State and President: President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (since 14 October 1981)

Party in Government: National Democratic Party (NDP)

Head of Government: Prime Minister Ahmed NAZIF (since 9 July 2004)  

Branches: Executive-President (head of state) is nominated by the People's Assembly for a six-year term. The nomination must then be validated by a national, popular referendum. The last national referendum was held on 26 September 1999. The Prime Minister (head of government) is appointed by the President.

Legislative—a bicameral system consists of the People's Assembly or Majlis al-Sha'b of 454 seats (444 are elected by popular vote and 10 appointed by the president), where members serve five-year terms and the Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura  (which functions only in a consultative role) of 264 seats of which 176 are elected by popular vote and  88 are appointed by the President. Members serve six-year terms. Mid-term elections for half the members are held.

Judicial-Supreme Constitutional Court  

Political parties: Nasserist Arab Democratic Party or Nasserists, National Democratic Party (NDP), National Progressive Unionist Grouping (Tagammu), New Wafd Party (NWP), Tomorrow Party (Al-Ghad).

Formation of political parties must be approved by the government.

Suffrage: Universal and compulsory at 18

Election results: A National summary from Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive.

A New York Times article entitled Q&A: Egypt's Presidential Elections dated 8 September 2005 discusses how Egypt's first multi-candidate election was handled, the post-Mubarak era considering he will be eighty-three years old at the next election, the possible  repeal of the emergency law, the balance between the President, the executive and the legislature, the role of Mubarak's son Gamal and, the role of the United States of America.

A China Daily article of 9 September 2005 entitled Mubarak wins Egypt election in landlside discusses intimidation, low voter turn-out, the integrity of the election process, protests and comment by the Bush administration (USA).

A Brookings Institution paper entitled The 2005 Egyptian elections: How free? How important? gives a full analysis of the issues to be encountered in  the Presidential vote.

Egypt

Election Type: Parliamentary

Election dates: 9 November 2005, 20 November 2005 and 1 December 2005

According to a Washington Institute paper dated 8 November 2005, entitled Legislative elections in Egypt: another test for democracy, elections will be held in three phases on 9 November, 20 November and 1 December 2005. This article provides background information, the affect of the lack of female and Christian candidates, discussion on the candidates, the ruling party and the Opposition.

Rioting and violence have formed a major part of Egypt's third round of voting as the ruling National Democratic Party moves closer  to securing the two-thirds majority needed to maintain control over the constitution. Further details may be read in a BBC News article dated 1 December 2005 entitled Violence mars Egyptian elections.

 An article from the Council on Foreign Relations entitled Muslim brotherhood and Egypt's Parliamentary elections takes a look at the possible makeup of the new parliament, legislative priorities and the impact of the brotherhood on democracy in Egypt.

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