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13 ELITE Vol.1 No.23 September 2020 |

Egyptian Senate

elections 2020

by Eugénie ibrahim

After being exposed to several difficult circumstances, as well as doctors, engineers, etc. This indicates that
such as the repercussions of the Coronavirus, the poor being a senator is not limited to graduates of the
economic conditions and the misunderstanding of Faculty of Economics and Political Sciences only.
recent government decisions, we can notice that However, this professional diversity is a double-edged
Egyptians have many questions, especially those sword, it is useful because it means better
related to the senatorial representativity, but the work of the senators requires
elections : what is the difference between the Senate a lot of knowledge and experience about the political
and the House of Representatives and was it necessary and economic situation of Egypt in order to
to create it? Many Egyptians were surprised by the end be able to analyze and give advice to help the other
of the elections or their existence in the first place, is chamber ; the idea of the representativity will be more
this due to the ineffectiveness of the parties’ electoral appropriate in the people’s assembly rather than the
campaigns? Or is it that people are not interested in or Senate whose purpose is to give advice. But after
refuse the reconstitution of the Senate? looking at the list of candidates, we find only one
person who graduated from the Faculty of Economics
One of the most important constitutional amendments and Political Sciences, meanwhile the other jobs have
in 2019 was related to the reconstitution of the Senate. nothing to do with politics.
In fact, the Egyptian Parliament, for most of its history,
was composed of two chambers. This bicameral Despite the importance of the Senate, we find that the
Parliament existed in most of the countries in the Egyptians were not enthusiastic about it. The
world, meaning that the Senate is not an innovation. It participation rate in the election as The National
differs from the House of Representatives as it consists Electoral Commission announced at the conference
of 300 members, and the age of the members must be was 14.23% about 9 million voters. This is due to many
at least 35 years. Also, women must represent at 10% of reasons, first, the effectiveness of the parties in the
the members, whether in the list or individual system. recent period was very weak, and we rarely find an
We note that the method of election is the direct ballot, active party on the Egyptian political stage as the party
the method of electing the President of the Republic “Mostakbal Watan”. Secondly, the election campaigns
and the members of the House of Representatives. The of the. Secondly, the election campaigns of the
Senate mandate lasts only for 5 years which confirms candidates were weak, and many of the candidates
article 252 of the Egyptian Constitution which prohibits were content by making to them pages on the social
that a single person becomes a member in both media or hanging posters in the street with little
chambers at the same time. interest in the various electoral programs and promises
that introduce them to the people. Also many of
it was necessary to establish a Senate in Egypt in order Egyptians people believe that it is a sham council of
to complete the form of the Egyptian Parliament and little importance and will not benefit them as citizens.
reduce pressure on the House of Representatives due
to the huge number of laws that must be promulgated, In my opinion, although the participation rate was
which in turn could affect the efficiency of the laws. greater than the previous senatorial elections during
the existence of
Also, among its advantages, the Senate will provide the Shura Council, it is still weak to the point that it
political balance, and expand the opportunity for the leads to the need to think of more effective ways to
representation of all social groups. In fact, we find a inform the citizens about the importance of choosing
their representatives. Also, the senators should expand
Nourhan Osama, Youstina Ebeid, Maries Adel, Nadeen Hesham, Nouran Hossam, Mostafa Sayyed, Reem
diversity among the jobs of candidates for the 2020
their activities later in order to show Egyptians that the
Senate elections, there are many advisors such as
Omran , Zeina Tarek, Hana Henien, Hania Bahaa, Yassmine Gamal Hussein, Salma Bayoumi, Mariam Sultan,
Abdel Wahab Rizk, actors such Senate is not just a supplementary chamber of the
George as Tariq El Desouki, high
Nada Hosny, Jozeph , Farah Ezz Eldin, Aliyaa Assem, Assile Mostafa, Rana Doss, Mirna Ossama,
Board Directors like Kayasir Muhammad Ibrahim, Egyptian p\Parliament but an essential political
entity.
Farah Islam, Zeina Arafa.
| Vol.1 No.23 September 2020 |