El marc polític d'Egipte

Political Outline

Current Political Leaders

President: Abdel fattah El-Sisi (since June 2014 ; re-elected for a second term in March 2018)
Prime Minister: Mostafa Madbouli (since June 2018)

Next Election Dates

Presidential: 2029
Parliamentary: 2025

Current Political Context

The domestic political landscape ushered in a wide victory for President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi in the presidential election held in December 2023. This electoral win has been in accordance with the 2019 constitutional revision, granting the president his third six-year term since 2014. This act will seal his incumbency, meaning there will be no continuation after this term. Moreovre, 2025 will mark an eventful time for parliamentary politics in Egypt: the Senate elections in August and the House of Representatives elections in October.
On the horizon of international politics, Egypt remains central to regional conflicts, solidifying its role as a key partner for bilateral and multilateral cooperation. Its proximity to the Gaza Strip makes its involvement in the Israel-Hamas war unavoidable, particularly through the Rafah border crossing, which facilitates international aid and serves as the primary exit for Gaza residents. At the same time in the Red Sea, Houthi rebel attacks are posing a threat to shipping companies, redirecting major carriers to alternative routes, resulting in a general decrease in traffic through the Suez Canal with a loss of income for the Egyptian government. Finally, on 1 January 2024, Egypt became part of the BRICS group, following an invitation that was issued during the 2023 BRICS Summit in Johannesburg. The move is expected to strengthen Egypt's economic and diplomatic ties with member states, providing new opportunities for trade, investment, and cooperation.   

Main Political Parties

Out of more than 100 parties, only about 20 are under the dome of Parliament, 5 have parliamentary bodies with more than 10 deputies within the House. These parties are:

• Mostakbal Watan (Nation's Future Party): nationalist, populist
• Al Shaab Al-Gomhouri (Republican People’s Party): nationalist
• New Wafd Party: liberalism, conservatism
• Homat El-Watan (Homeland’s Defenders Party): centrist
• Modern Egypt: centre-right, liberalism
• Reform and Development Party: liberalism, centrist, it is the main opposition party
• Egyptian Social Democratic Party: social democratic

Other parties include

• Freedom Party
• Conference Party
• Al-Nour Party
• National Progressive Unionist Party (Tagammu)
• Justice Party
• Eradet Geel Party.

Executive Power

The President is the Head of State and the Supreme Commander of the armed forces. He is elected for a six-year term of office. The President is the head of the executive branch and appoints the Prime Minister, who must be approved by a confidence vote in the Parliament. The President also appoints the head of the Council of Ministers. Cabinet ministers are nominated by the executive branch and approved by the House of Representatives. Furthermore, the President can dissolve the Assembly and rule by decree.
In 2019 the Parliament voted to remove the limit of two terms for the President, whose term has been extended from four to six years.

Legislative Power

The legislative power is bicameral since the constitutional referendum of 2019 was approved by the House of Representatives in June 2020. It established an upper chamber called the Senate, composed of 300 seats (100 members directly elected in single seat constituencies, 100 directly elected by closed party-list vote, and 100 appointed by the president). The House of Representatives is composed of 596 members, of which 568 directly elected for a period of 5 years by universal suffrage and 28 appointed. The President may dissolve the House of Representatives.

Indicator of Freedom of the Press

World Rank:

166/180

Indicator of Political Freedom

Ranking:

Not Free

Political Freedom:

6/7

Political freedom in the world (interactive map)
Source: Freedom in the World Report, Freedom House