Country Profile
Egypt,officially the Arab Republic of Egypt is a country mainly in North Africa with the Sinai Peninsula forming a landbridge in Southwest Asia.Egypt is thus a Transcontinental country and a major power in the Mediterranean Basin,the Middle East and the Muslim World.
Egypt is one of the most populous countries in Africa and the Middle East.
Egypt is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northeast, the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south and Libya to the west.
Egypt is divided into 27 Governorates which are further divided into Regions
Capital Cairo
Currency Egyptian Pound
Official Language Arabic
Population 85 Million(2011 Estimate)
Flag of Egypt
Politics and Government
The Govt of Egypt as of January 2012, is a Republic currently under Military Rule
of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces headed by Field Marshall Mohamed Hussein Tantawi ( after the Egyptian President Hosni
Mubarak stepped down following Egyptian Revolution which started in Jan 2011
and mass protest compelled Hosni Mubarak to resign on Feb 2011)which dissolved the Egyptian Parliament,suspended the Egyptian Constitution and promised free, open Presidential and Parliamentary Elections.
President of Egypt
Mohamed Morsi Isa al-Ayyat is the 5th and current President of Egypt in office from June 30,2012 after winning the Presidential Election held on May 23-24 and RuOff June 16-17,2012 by securing -
Candidates Political Party First Round Second Round
Mohamed Morsi Freedom & Justice 25% votes 52% votes
Ahmed Shafik Independent 24% votes 48% votes
Hamdeen Sabahi Dignity Party 21% votes
Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh Independent 17% votes
Amr Moussa Independent 11% votes
Mohamed Morsi was sworn as Egyptian President on Saturday June 30,2012 and he becomes Egypt's 1st Democratically Elected President
Prime Minister of Egypt
Kamal Ganzouri is the current Prime Minister of Egypt in office from Dec 07,2011 appointed by theEgyptian Military Council(Supreme Council of the Armed Forces)He previously served as PM from 1996 to 1999 and was Minister of Planning and International Cooperation before becoming PM.
Essam Abdel-Aziz Sharaf was the PM of Egypt during March 02,2011 to Dec 07,2011.He was asked by the Military Council to form a Govt following the resignation of Ahmed Shafik.
Ahmed Mohamed Shafik Zaki was the PM of Egypt during
Jan 31,2011 to March 03,2011, a period of 33 days.He was appointed as PM by President Hosni Mubarak in response to the 2011 Egyptian Revolution, making him the last PM to serve as part of President Hosni Mubarak's administration.Ahmed Shafik resigned one day after a contentious talk show confrontation in which he was accused by a prominent Egyptian Novelist Alaa Al Aswany of being a Hosni Mubarak Regime holdover.
Ahmed Nazif was the PM of Egypt during July 14,2004 to Jan 29, 2011.Also Ahmed Nazif was Acting President of Egypt from March 05,2010 to April 15,2010, when President Hosni Mubarak delegated his authorities to Ahmed Nazif while undergoing surgery in Germany.Following the 2011Egyptian Revolution, President Mubarak announced in his first appearance since the protests began that he had asked Ahmed Nazif and his Govt to resign.Ahmed Shafik who had been Minister of Civil Aviation, was appointed to replace Ahmed Nazif as Prime Minister on Jan 29, 2011.
Parliament of Egypt
The Parliament of Egypt is Bicameral -
People's Assembly(Lower House)has 508 members,of which 498 to be elected directly by universal suffrage and 10 to be appointed by the President
Shura Council(Upper House)has 270 Members,of which 180 to be elected and 90 appointed by President
Parliament was dissolved on Feb 11, 2011, following the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak in the 2011 Egyptian Revolution and elections to the Lower House(People's Assembly)took place from Nov 28,2011 to Jan 11, 2012, followed by elections to the Upper House(Shura Council)
People's Assembly(Lower House) Election Results -
The Democratic Alliance led by Freedom and Justice Party secured 37.5% Votes and got 235 seats
Islamists Bloc led by Al Nour Party secured 27.8% Votes and got123 seats
New Wafd Party secured 9.2% Votes and got 38 seats
Egyptian Bloc secured 8.9% Votes and got 35 seats
Al Wasat secured 3.7% Votes and got 10 seats
Revolution Continues Alliance secured 2.8% Votes and got 9 seats
Shura CouncilUpper House) Election Results -
The Democratic Alliance led by Freedom and Justice Party secured 58.3% Votes and got 105 seats
Islamists Bloc led by Al Nour Party secured 25% Votes and got 45 seats
New Wafd Party secured 7.78% Votes and got14 seats
Egyptian Bloc secured 4.44% Votes and got 8 seats
Timeline - Egyptian Revolution
January 2011
Activists in Egypt call for an uprising in their own country, to protest against poverty, unemployment, government corruption and the rule of president Hosni Mubarak, who has been in power for 3 decades.
Tahrir Square in Central Cairo became the focal point of the protests and protestors gather at the Tahrir Square and
thousands of protesters remain in Cairo's Tahrir Square.
Egyptians take to the streets in large numbers.Thousands march in downtown Cairo, heading towards the offices of the ruling National Democratic Party, as well as the foreign ministry and the state television. Similar protests are reported in other towns across the country.Protests break out in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, the Nile Delta cities of Mansura and Tanta and in the southern cities of Aswan and Assiut.
Hours after the countrywide protests begin, the interior ministry issues a statement blaming the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's technically banned but largest opposition party, for fomenting the unrest.
Mohamed ElBaradei, the former head of the UN nuclear watchdog turned democracy advocate, arrives in Egypt to join the protests and became a major figure of the opposition, with all major opposition groups supporting his role as a negotiator for some form of transitional unity government.
Protest organisers heavily relied on social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter.
Protests continue across several cities. Hundreds have been arrested, but the protesters say they will not give up until their demand is met.
Facebook, Twitter and Blackberry Messenger services are disrupted.Internet and mobile phone text message users in Egypt report major disruption to services.
Mubarak announces that he has sacked the cabinet, but he himself refuses to step down. His whereabouts are unknown.Mubarak appoints a vice-president(Omar Suleiman, the country's former spy chief) for the first time during his three decades in power.
Egypt's new vice-president promises dialogue with opposition parties in order to push through constitutional reforms
Protesters continue to defy the military-imposed curfew. About 250,000 people gather in Cairo's Tahrir Square and hundreds march through Alexandria.
Mubarak names his new cabinet on state television.President Mubarak tells his New PM Ahmad Shafiq, to keep government subsidies and cut prices.
February 2011
Hosni Mubarak announces in a televised address that he will not run for re-election but refuses to step down from office.
Clashes break out between pro-Mubarak and anti-government protesters in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria.
Khalid Abdel Nasser, son of the former Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser, joins the protest in Tahrir Square.
Bursts of heavy gunfire early aimed at anti-government demonstrators in Tahrir [Liberation] Square, leave at least five people dead and several more wounded.
Hundreds of thousands of anti-government protesters gather in Cairo's Tahrir Square for what they have termed the "Day of Departure".Chants urging Hosni Mubarak to leave reverberate across the square.
The leadership of Egypt's ruling National Democratic Party resigns, including Gamal Mubarak, the son of Hosni Mubarak. The new secretary-general of the party is Hossam Badrawi, seen as a member of the liberal wing of the party.
A symbolic funeral procession is held for journalist Ahmed Mahmoud, shot as he filmed the clashes between protesters and riot police from his Cairo office.
Labour unions join protesters in the street, with some of them calling for Mubarak to step down while others simply call for better pay. Masssive strikes start rolling throughout the country.
Human Rights Watch says that 302 people have been killed since the start of Egypt's pro-democracy uprising.
The newly appointed Culture Minister, Gaber Asfour, quits. His family says it's due to health reasons but Egypt's main daily newspaper al-Ahram says Asfour, who is also a writer, was criticised by his literary colleagues for taking the post.
The criminal court in Egypt has endorsed the decision of banning three former ministers from leaving the country and the government has also frozen their assets.
Mubarak gives a televised speech which he says is "from the heart". He repeats his promise to not run in the next presidential elections and to "continue to shoulder" his responsibilties in the "peaceful transition" that he says will take place in September 2011.Protesters in Tahrir Square react with fury when Mubarak says he's remaining in power until September. Protesters wave their shoes in the air, and demand the army join them in revolt.
Vice President Omar Suleiman announced that Mubarak would be stepping down as president and turning power over to the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces on Feb 11,2011.
Protesters descended on the state television building in Cairo and the presidential palace in Heliopolis
People celebrate in Tahrir Square until early morning. Pro-democracy protesters start to clean the square.
The country's new military rulers promise to hand power to an elected, civilian government and pledged that Egypt will remain committed to all International Treaties.
State television says travel bans are being imposed on several of the country's former ministers, including the former PM Ahmed Nazif, who was sacked by Mubarak before he stepped down.
Soldiers try to remove the remaining protesters in Tahrir Square and their tents are dismantled. Traffic flows through the square for the first time since the protests began - Feb 13,2011
The military junta, headed by effective head of state Mohamed Hussein Tantaw iannounced that the constitution would be suspended, both houses of parliament dissolved, and that the military would rule for six months until elections could be held.The prior cabinet, including Prime Minister Ahmed Shafik would continue to serve as a caretaker government until a new one is formed - February 13,2011
March 2011
Prime Minister Ahmed Shafik resigned and was replaced by Essam Sharaf , the former transport minister - March 3,2011
Protesters raided 'State Security Intelligence(SSI) buildings(including the headquarters for Alexandria Governorate and the main national headquarters in Nasr City) to secure documents they believed to show various crimes committed by the SSI against the people of Egypt during Mubarak's rule. From the Nasr City headquarters, protesters acquired evidence of mass aueveillance and vote rigging
A constitutional referendum was held in Egypt on 19 March 2011. More than 14 million (77%) were in favour, while around 4 million (23%) opposed the changes
The Egyptian Cabinet orders a law criminalising protests and strikes that hampers work at private or public establishments. Under the new law, anyone organising or calling for such protests will be sentenced to jail and/or a fine of LE500,000 (~100,000 USD) - March 23,2011
April 2011
Protesters head to Tahrir Square for the rally to "save the revolution" - April 1,2011
Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators again filled Tahrir Square, criticizing the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces for not following through on revolutionary demands; demanding the resignation of remaining regime figures and the removal of Egypt’s public prosecutor due to the slow pace of investigations of corrupt former officials. - April 8,2011
May 2011
Tens of thousands of demonstrators filled Tahrir Square in the largest demonstrations since ousting Mubarak's Regimedemanding - No Military Trials for Civilians, the Egyptian Constitution to be made before the Parliament Elections and for all the old regime gang and those who killed protestors in January and February to be put on fair Trial.
Hosni Mubarak was ordered to stand trial on charges of premeditated murder of peaceful protestors during the 2011 Egyptian revolution and, if convicted, could face the death penalty May 24,2011
July 2011
Tens of thousands of protesters gathered in Suez, Alexandria and Tahrir Square in Cairo, to voice frustration with the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces for what they called the slow pace of change five months after the revolution.- July 1,2011
Hundreds of thousands of protesters gathered in Suez, Alexandria and Tahrir Square in Cairo demanding
immediate reforms and swifter prosecution of former officials from the ousted government - July 8,2011
Thousands of gathered in several cities across Egypt to press the country’s military rulers to deliver on its promise of reforms and speed up the trials of former officials - July15,2011
September 2011
Protesters storm the Israeli embassy dumped documents out of the windows as hundreds more demonstrated outside, prompting the ambassador and his family to leave the country - Sep 10,2011
Egypt’s ruling military council dispatched a commando team to extract Israeli security personnel within the embassy, while civil security forces worked to disperse crowds gathered around the embassy compound. Israeli citizens and Embassy staff were later evacuated to Israel shortly thereafter.
Egypt’s ruling military council declared a state of emergency to restore order after the incident.
Omar Suleiman(who was Mubarak's longtime intelligence chief and was named vice president during the last weeks of his rule, is the first in a string of members of the ousted leader's senior leadership to appear in the court) testified on Tuesday at the ousted leader's trial under a complete media blackout, facing questions over whether his former boss ordered the use of lethal force against protesters - Sep 13 ,2011
An Egyptian court on Wednesday convicted former information minister Anas al-Fiqqi of corruption and sentenced him to seven years in prison. Sep 28,2011
October 2011
The leader of Egypt's ruling generals Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi said on Wednesday the army has no interest in staying in power for a long time, but insisted the military council won't step down until it has 'fulfilled its commitments' Oct 5,2011
Mohammed Hussein Tantawi heads the military council which has been exercising power on an interim basis since President Hosni Mubarak stepped down in response to a popular uprising in February 2011.
Power transfer plan
- November 2011 - January 2012 - Parliamentary elections (won by Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist parties)
- Mid 2012 - Presidential elections
- Parliament to pick constituent assembly to write new constitution.
- Parliament to have legislative powers.
- Military council to retain ''presidential powers'' until presidential elections in June 2012.
- Military council to appoint government.
A timetable put forward by the military council would hold presidential elections near the end of 2012, meaning the generals would be in power for nearly two years before they step down, rather than the six months they had initially set as a deadline when they took over from Mubarak.
6 presidential candidates called on the generals to hold presidential elections by the end of April to speed up the transfer of power.
Riots erupted in Cairo as Christians protesting a recent attack on a church came under assault by thugs who rained stones down on them and fired pellets.Christians, who make up about 10 per cent of Egypt's 80 million people, blame the country's ruling military council for being too lenient on those behind a spate of anti-Christian attacks since Mubarak's ouster.
Abdel-Fattah(prominent Egyptian blogger) was accused of inciting violence and other offenses during clashes that killed 27 people Oct. 9,2011 but he was never formally charged. He was arrested Oct. 30,2011
November 2011
About 50,000 protesters flocked to Cairo's Tahrir Square on Friday Nov 18,2011 to press Egypt's military rulers to transfer power to elected civilians after the cabinet launched a move to exempt the army from parliamentary oversight.
Hundreds of protesters fought back, hurling stones and setting an armoured police vehicle ablaze.
Egyptian riot police firing tear gas and rubber bullets stormed into Cairo's Tahrir Square today to dismantle a protest tent camp, setting off clashes that injured at least 676 people and raising tensions days before the first elections since Hosni Mubarak was ousted - Nov 19,2011
Egyptian riot police have clashed for a second day (Nov 20,2011) with rock-throwing protesters demanding that the ruling military quickly announce a date to hand over power to an elected government
Egyptian soldiers and police set fire to tents in the middle of Cairo's Tahrir Square and fired tear gas and rubber bullets in a major assault to drive out thousands of protesters following two days of clashes
Egyptian police use force to clear Tahrir Square - Nov 20,2011
The violence raised fears of new unrest surrounding the parliamentary elections that are due to begin on Monday Nov 28,2011
New PM for Egypt to Replace Essam Sharaf
Egypt's Ruling Military Council asked former PMr Kamal Ganzouri(headed a cabinet from 1996 to 1999) to form a new government on Thursday Nov 24,2011 after protesters demanded the army sack the previous cabinet
Many Egyptians viewed him as an official who was not tainted by corruption, but his record serving under Mubarak could stir opposition from those demanding a clean break with the past.
Thousands Rally in Egypt ''on last chance friday''
Thousands of Egyptians demanding an end to military rule converged on Cairo's Tahrir square on Friday Nov 25,2011
Egyptian state television on Friday Nov 25,2011 says the Nation's Ruling Military has asked a Mubarak-era prime minister to head the next government - Kamal el-Ganzouri, 78, served as prime minister in the 1990s under President Hosni Mubarak to replace Essam Sharaf, who resigned this week.
The appointment is likely to anger the protestors.
Egypt Parliamentary Elections
Egyptians go to the polls on Monday Nov 28,2011 to cast their votes for a new parliament after the end of the 30-year rule of Hosni Mubarak in Feb 2011.
The Parliament Elections are to be held in 3 stages - Nov28,2011;Dec14,2011 and Jan 3,2012 for the 498 seat People's Assembly,Lower House of the parliament.
Elections to 270-strong Shura Council (upper house) is to take between Jan 29,2012-March11,2012
About 50 million people are eligible to vote out of a population in excess of 85 million - with candidates from 50 registered political parties. Forty party lists and blocs composed of multiple parties are standing, including at least three parties established by former ruling National Democratic Party members whom the democracy movement has tried and failed to exclude.
Egyptians gather outside a polling site to vote in the parliamentary elections in Cairo
Voters line up outside a polling center beneath campaign posters on the first day of parliamentary elections in Cairo
Women take cover from the rain under umbrellas as they queue outside a polling station in Alexandria
A woman shows her identification card as she waits to vote at a polling station in the town of Ibshawai
An Egyptian man votes at a polling center in Shubra
Egyptians vote in a polling station in Assuit, 320 kilometers (200 miles) south of Cairo
A man casts his vote at a polling station in Cairo
An elderly Egyptian man shows his ink-stained thumb after casting his vote at a polling station in the Manial neighbourhood
The Freedom and Justice Party, set up by Egypt’s once- banned Muslim Brotherhood, is expected to emerge as one of the largest blocs in the parliament.
December 2011
Alaa Abdel-Fattah Freed after two months detention
Egyptian prominent blogger Alaa Abdel Fattah hugs his recently born son, Khaled, after after he was released in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011. An Egyptian court ordered the release of Alaa after detained nearly two months ago by the ruling military for his alleged role in deadly sectarian clashes in October 2011.
Egypt Parliamentary Elections
Egypt's complicated vote
- Three separate polls stretched over months
- Elections to 498-member People's Assembly (lower house) - 28 Nov-10 Jan 2012
- Elections to 270-strong Shura Council (upper house) - 19 Jan -22 Feb 2012
- Presidential elections due mid-2012
- Two-thirds of members for both houses elected by PR
- One-third chosen by first-past-the-post system
- Provinces divided into three groups, voting on different dates
- More than 40 political parties compete, fielding more than 10,000 candidates
The Parliament Elections are to be held in 3 stages -
Nov28,2011;
Dec14,2011 and
Jan 3,2012
for the 498 seat People's Assembly,Lower House of the parliament and 2 days given to voting in each round.Under the highly complex system being used, voters were required to pass 3 votes- 2 for individual candidates and 1 for a party.
The parliamentary elections vote being staged over 6 weeks is Egypt's1st free polls after a series of rigged elections under Hosni Mubarak, who after almost 30 years in power was driven from office by a popular uprising in February 2011.
Elections to 270-strong Shura Council (upper house) is to take place between Jan 29,2012-March11,2012
About 50 million people are eligible to vote out of a population in excess of 85 million - with candidates from 50 registered political parties. Forty party lists and blocs composed of multiple parties are standing, including at least three parties established by former ruling National Democratic Party members whom the democracy movement has tried and failed to exclude.
Abdel Moez Ibrahim, Head of the Egyptian Election Commission
Turnout in the opening phase of Egypt's 1st post-revolution election was 62 percent, the highest in the country's history, Election Commission Head Abdel Moez Ibrahim announced.
Egyptians go to the 1st phase of polls on Monday Nov 28,2011 to cast their votes for a new parliament after the end of the 30-year rule of Hosni Mubarak in Feb 2011.
Egyptians gather outside a polling site to vote in the parliamentary elections in Cairo
Voters line up outside a polling center beneath campaign posters on the first day of parliamentary elections in Cairo
Women take cover from the rain under umbrellas as they queue outside a polling station in Alexandria
A woman shows her identification card as she waits to vote at a polling station in the town of Ibshawai
An Egyptian man votes at a polling center in Shubra
Egyptians vote in a polling station in Assuit, 320 kilometers (200 miles) south of Cairo
A man casts his vote at a polling station in Cairo
An elderly Egyptian man shows his ink-stained thumb after casting his vote at a polling station in the Manial neighbourhood
Egypt Election Results Delayed
The elections results are expected to be announced on Thursday December01,2011.The Egyptian electoral commission blamed the delay on the high number of votes cast. State TV said they would be released on Friday. The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces said they would now be revealed on Friday or Saturday.
Egyptian election officials count ballots for the first round of elections in Cairo
Islamists Dominate Egypt Election Results
Mohammed Morsi, President of the Islamist, Freedom and Justice Party (FJP)
Dec 4,2011 Sunday's results only reflect the performance of the parties for only one-third of the 498 seats
Parties Position in the 1st phase of parliamentary elections
Islamist parties took more than 60% of the vote in the first round of Egypt's parliamentary polls, according to partial results provided by the High Election Commission.Islamist-led party lists secured about 2/3rd of votes in the 1st round of the election.The biggest single bloc went to the alliance led by the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party that won about 37 % of the vote, with the hardline Salafi al-Nour Party listing coming a surprise second with 24%.
The liberal Egyptian Bloc and another liberal party, Wafd, together secured about 20 % of votes for their lists.
The Freedom and Justice Party, the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, garnered 36.6% of the 9,734,413 ballots cast for the party lists, while the conservative Nour Party captured 24.4%.
The liberal Egyptian Bloc came in third with just 13.4% of the votes. Another liberal group, the Wafd Party, received 7.1%, while the moderate Islamist Wasat or Centrist Party took 4.3%.
Egypt Election: Second Phase Dec 14,2011
Islamists are poised to further consolidate their overwhelming lead in the second phase of Egyptian parliamentary polls, as millions headed to polling booths on Wednesday Dec 14,2011 to decide the future of 9 governorates.Voting has been relatively peaceful, with no major irregularities reported.
Unlike the previous phase, almost all polling stations opened on time, according to the Supreme Judicial Committee for Elections.The second Phase is covering 9 of Egypt's 27 governorates, including Giza, Beni Sueif, Sohag, Aswan, Menoufiya, Sharqiya, Beheira, Ismailia and Suez.
Clashes Between Military Police And Demonstrators- Dec 16,2011
Egyptian soldiers clashed with hundreds of rock-throwing protesters in central Cairo for a second consecutive day on Saturday, hurling stones from rooftops and firing water from hoses in a crackdown that has left at least eight people dead.
Early Saturday, hundreds of protesters hurled stones at security forces who have sealed off the streets around the country's parliament building with barbed wire and large concrete blocks. Soldiers on rooftops pelted the crowds below with stones, prompting many of the protesters to pick up helmets, satellite dishes or sheets of metal to try to protect themselves.Witnesses said soldiers wielding wooden sticks and dressed in riot gear chased protesters through the streets, forcing them to retreat to nearby Tahrir Square.Later, soldiers stormed into Tahrir to disperse the protesters, and set fire to their tents. A huge cloud of black smoke hung over downtown Cairo as the tents burned.
The violence first began late Thursday after soldiers stormed an antimilitary protest camp outside the Cabinet building near Tahrir Square, expelling demonstrators demanding an end to military rule and an immediate transfer of power to a civilian authority .
Egyptian women protest abuse by soldiers
Thousands of Egyptian women marched in the streets of Cairo on Tuesday Dec 20,2011, protesting abuse by soldiers who dragged women by the hair, stomped on them and stripped one half naked on the street while cracking down on anti-military protesters in scenes that shocked many in the conservative society.
Even before the protest was over, the ruling military council issued an unusual apology for what it called "violations" - a quick turnaround after days of dismissing the significance of the abuse.The council expressed "deep regret to the great women of Egypt" and reaffirmed "its respect and total appreciation for the women of Egypt and their right to protest, effectively and positively participate in the political life on the road to the democratic transition." It promised it was taking measures to punish those responsible for violations
Islamists Continue Gains In Second Round Vote
Election commission chief Abdel-Moez Ibrahim announced the results on Saturday Dec 24,2011 -
Muslim Brotherhood won around 86 of estimated 180 seats or 47 percent.
The Al-Nour Party, the political arm of the ultraconservative Salafi movement, won around 20 percent of the vote.
The secular alliance of Egyptian Bloc and youth Revolution won less than 10 percent of the seats.
Egypt Election: Third Phase Jan 03,2012
Egyptian voters are taking part in the 3rd and final round of elections to the lower house of parliament in nine provinces of the country.
Parliament Elections - Final Results
Final results on Saturday Jan 21,2012 showed that Islamist parties won nearly three-quarters of the seats in parliament in Egypt's first elections since the ouster of authoritarian president Hosni Mubarak, according to election officials.
A coalition led by the fundamentalist Muslim Brotherhood won 47 percent, or 235 seats in the 498-seat parliament. The ultraconservative Al-Nour Party was second with 25 percent, or 125 seats.
Muslim Brotherhood’s political party consolidates power in Egypt parliament
The Muslim Brotherhood is the nation’s oldest Islamist organization and since President Hosni Mubarak’s ouster last year, has become the nation’s most influential political force. Its Freedom and Justice Party emerged from recently concluded elections with just under half of the 508 seats in the lower house and almost 60 percent of the 180 seats in the upper house
Freedom and Justice Party’s Mohammed Saad el-Katatny elected Speaker of the Lower House
Freedom and Justice Party’s Ahmed Fahmy elected Speaker of the Upper House.
The two houses are expected to hold a joint meeting Saturday March 3,2012 to begin the selection of a 100-member constituent assembly, the most important undertaking of the new parliament.
Egypt Presidential Poll - May 23-24,2012
A Presidential Election will be held on May 23-24, 2012 (with a run-off on 16 and 17 June 2012, if necessary).It will be the 2nd Presidential Election in Egypt's history with more than one candidate, following the 2005 Election held on Sep 7,2005(which Hosni Mubarak won getting 88.6% Votes for the 5th consecutive 6year term in office defeating Ayman Nour(Tomorrow Party)who got 7.3% Votes and Numan Gumaa who got 2.8%Votes)
Candidates have to be born in Egypt, may not hold dual nationality and may not be married to a foreigner; to be nominated, they require the support of 30 MPs or 30,000 voters.
According to the electoral committee, the formal registration process for candidates will start on March 10,2012.The registration process ends on April 8, after which candidates will begin campaigning.
Nobel Prize laureate and ex-head of the UN atomic watchdog Mohamed ElBaradei decided to drop out of the race, complaining of a lack of democracy in Egypt .
Frontrunners in the Presidential race include -
Former Arab League Chief Amr Mussa, who was foreign minister under Hosni Mubarak
Abdel Moneim Abul Fotuh, a former member of the Muslim Brotherhood
Ahmad Shafiq, the last PM under Hosni Mubarak
Salafist leader Hazem Salah Abu Ismail
Nasserite Head Hamdeen Sabahi and
Islamist independent figure Salim al-Awwa
Muslim Brotherhood's Presidential Candidate
Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood has nominated its deputy chairman Khairat al-Shatir as its candidate for the first post-Mubarak presidential elections, reversing its earlier stance not to contest the poll .
Mubarak's Intelligence Chief Joins Race for Egypt Presidency
Omar Suleiman,the intelligence chief of Hosni Mubarak announced on Friday April 06,2012 that he planned to run.Suleiman's arrival on the scene comes shortly after the Muslim Brotherhood nominated its deputy leader Khairat al-Shater for head of state.
More than 21 candidates had submitted their registration papers by Sunday April 08,2012
Election Commission Disqualifies 10 Presidential Aspirants
Egypt’s presidential electoral commission on Tuesday April 17,2012 permanently disqualified 10 candidates which include -
1)Muslim Brotherhood's Khairat el-Shater
2) Former Intelligence chief of Hosni Mubarak,Omar Suleiman
3)Salafist leader Hazem Salah Abu Ismail
4)Ayman Nour,Founder of the Liberal El Ghad Party and leader of the Ghad El-Thawra Party
5) Ahmad Awad Al-Saidi , National Party of Egypt Nominee
6)Mamdouh Qutb, Previous DG of the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate, Civilisation Party Nominee
7) Houssam Khayrat, Egyptian Arab Socialist Party Nominee
8)Ashraf Barouma,"Misr Al-Kanana" Party President
9)Mortada Mansour, Previous Zamalek SC Chairman and National Party of Egypt Nominee and
10)Ibrahim El-Gharib, Independent with the Support of 30 000 voters.
Farouk Sultan, Head of the Supreme Presidential Election Commission, said on Saturday April 14,2012 that that 10 of the 23 registered candidates had been barred from the race.Reasons for the disqualifications were not given, but the effected candidates were given 48 hours to appeal the decision. Both Suleiman and El-Shater's campaigns have stated they will file appeals. All appeals were rejected.
Egyptians Protest Military Rule- Friday April 20,2012
Egypt’s Islamist and secular forces are seeking to re-launch the street uprising against the country’s ruling military, packing Cairo’s Tahrir Square with tens of thousands of protesters in the biggest rally in months and accusing the generals of manipulating upcoming presidential elections to preserve their power.2
Thousands of Egyptians from across the political spectrum turned out at the iconic plaza unified in their opposition to remnants of Hosni Mubarak's regime and in their determination to protect the goals of a hard-fought revolution.
Rival factions put their differences aside to come together against military rule. The Muslim Brotherhood joined hands with liberals to voice discontent with an electoral process that has disqualified several candidates, including the leader of the Islamist group
“Down with military rule,” chanted the protesters. Banners by all factions draped around the sprawling downtown plaza demanded that candidates seen as “feloul,” or “remnants” from Mubarak’s regime be barred from the race particularly former foreign minister Amr Moussa, a frontrunner after the disqualifications
Tens of thousands more demonstrated in other cities around the country.
Egyptian Presidential Election - The Final Candidates List
Egyptian officials have published the final list on April 26,2012 of those allowed to stand in the first presidential election to be held after the ousting of President Hosni Mubarak last year.
The list contains the names of 13 candidates, out of 23 who had initially applied to stand.Announcing the list, Farouk Sultan, head of the Higher Presidential Election Commission, said the body had decided to accept Mr Shafiq's appeal against his exclusion.
The final cadidates list consists of -
1)Ahmed Shafiq (prime minister under ousted President Hosni Mubarak)
2)Hossam Khairallah(67)a former intelligence officer fielded by the Democratic Peace Party
3)Mohamed Fawzi Eissa(68)of the Generation Democratic Party
4)Mahmoud Hossam(48) a former police officer
5)Mohamed Mursi(61) chairman of Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party (FJP)
6)Abdel-Moneim Abul-Fotouh(61) a paediatrician
7)Mohamed Selim El-Awa(70)
8)Amr Moussa(75) a former Foreign Minister of Egypt and Secretary-General of the Arab League
9)Hamdeen Sabbahi(58)is a Nasserist who heads the Nationalist Karama Party
10)Abul-Ezz El-Hariri
11)Hisham Bastawisi(61)fielded by the leftist Tagammu Party
12)Abdallah Al-Ashaal(67)is Professor of International Law at the American University in Cairo and a former Assistant Foreign Minister and fielded by the ultra-conservative Islamist Asala Party
13)Khaled Ali(40)a socialist law and human rights activist, received the support of 32 MPs and is considered the choice of the revolutionary movements
The 1st round of the Presidential Election is to be held on May 23-24,2012
Egyptian Presidential Candidates TV Debate
Millions of Egyptians tuned into the first ever presidential debate in the country's history on May 10,2012 Thursday night between frontrunners Amr Moussa and Abdel-Moneim Abul-Futoh.
There are 13 candidates in the election which begins on May 23, but the two who showed up for the TV bout were the established frontrunners in the polls, former foreign minister Moussa and former Muslim Brotherhood member Abul-Futoh.
Each candidate set out to accentuate his credentials to the detriment of the other. Abul-Futoh alluded to Moussa's ties to the Mubarak regime many times, while Moussa reciprocated by attacking Abul-Futoh's affiliation to the Muslim Brotherhood.
Candidates were asked a broad selection of questions over the four and half hours of the debate, ranging from the relationship with the ruling military junta, minority rights and the implementation of Sharia law.
Egyptian Presidential Poll Begins - Wednesday May 23,2012
The Presidential Election will be held on May 23-24 2012 (if necessary,with a run-off on June 16-17 2012). It will be the second presidential election in Egypt's history with more than one candidate, following the 2005 Election and the first presidential election after the 2011 Egyptian Revolution during the Arab Spring.
The U.S. based Carter Center, headed by former President Jimmy Carter has sent 22 international observers, drawn from 14 nationalities to monitor the polls.
About 50 million eligible voters have been called to cast their ballots.13 candidates are running in the election that takes place over two days in 13,000 polling stations nationwide.
The frontrunners are:
- Ahmed Shafiq, a former commander of the air force and briefly prime minister during February 2011 protests
- Amr Moussa, who has served as foreign minister and head of the Arab League
- Mohammed Mursi, who heads Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party
- Abdul Moneim Aboul Fotouh, an independent Islamist candidate
Other prominent candidates
- Muhammad al-Awwa, Islamic thinker
- Hisham al-Bastawisi, leading judge
- Abu al-Izz al-Hariri, Socialist MP
- Khalid Ali, Left-wing rights activist
- Hamdin Sabbahi, co-founder of Nasserist Karama party
Unofficial Results of First Round of Presidential Polls
Mohammed Mursi(Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party) has got 25.30% Votes
Ahmed Shafiq(Independent)has got 23.74% Votes and
Hamdeen Sabbahi(Independent)has got 21.60% Votes
The turnout in first round of voting was 43.4% , a low turnout compared to the parliamentary elections months before
Egypt's state of emergency, that gave security forces sweeping powers to detain suspects and try them in special courts, has ended after 31 years.
It has been in place without interruption since the assassination of President Anwar Sadat in October 1981.
Hosni Mubarak Gets Life Imprisonment
Egypt's ex-President Hosni Mubarak(84) has been sentenced to life in prison on Saturday June 02,2012 after a court convicted him on charges of complicity in the killing of protesters during last year's uprising that forced him from power.
Judge Ahmed Rifaat who delivered a strongly worded statement before handing down the sentences. described Mubarak's era as "30 years of darkness" and "a darkened nightmare" that ended only when Egyptians rose up to demand change.
"They peacefully demanded democracy from rulers who held tight grip on power," the judge said.
Hosni Mubarak is the first Arab leader to be tried by his own people in the country.
Hosni Mubarak's verdict came just days after presidential elections have been boiled down to a June 16-17 contest between Mubarak's last prime minister, one-time protege Ahmed Shafiq, and Mubarak's top foe, a Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammed Morsi.
Muslim Brotherhood's Mohammed Mursi Wins Presidential Election
"Mohamed Morsy is the first popularly elected civilian President of Egypt," read a brief but triumphant message on the official website of Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party (FJP)
The Brotherhood claimed that Mohamed Morsy had won 52.5% votes while Ahmed Shafiq, a former aviator and the last PM of ousted President Hosni Mubarak, secured 47.5 % Votes.
Hosni Mubarak in coma and on life support in hospital
The state news agency reported that the 84-year-old had suffered a blood clot in the brain which caused his heart to stop, but that he was resuscitated by paramedics at the prison hospital and then moved to the military hospital as his condition deteriorated.
Mohammed Morsi Reverses Parliament Dissolution
Mohammed Mursi whose Muslim Brotherhood won most seats, said the chamber should reconvene until a new election is held, a month after it was dissolved.
The military had enforced a court order last month dissolving parliament because party members had contested seats reserved for independents.
The military council held emergency talks on Mohammed Mursi's decree but did not decide on any action
Egypt top court freezes Mohammed Morsi decree
Egypt’s Supreme Constitutional Court on Tuesday July 10,2012 overturned a decree issued by newly-elected President Mohamed Morsy reinstating the Islamist-led parliament, which met by reconvening in open defiance of the military, even as power struggle between state institutions heightened.
Egypt’s Supreme Constitutional Court issued the ruling suspending President Morsy’s Sunday decree reinstating the People’s Assembly, the lower house of Egypt’s parliament.
The court ordered that its previous ruling be implemented.
The ruling came just hours after the parliament met for a session that lasted just 12 minutes in line with a presidential decree, in spite of cautious warnings from both the constitutional court as well as the military council.
Egyptian Parliament Speaker Saad el-Katani presides over a brief session of Parliament, the first since the country's high court ruled the chamber unconstitutional, in Cairo
Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy's Decree
Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy has issued an order preventing any
court from overturning his decisions, essentially allowing him to run
the country unchecked until a new constitution is drafted, his spokesman
announced on state TV Thursday Nov 22,2012
Morsy declared that any laws or decrees he's made since he took office
June 30, and until a new constitution is put in place, are final and
cannot be overturned or appealed.
Morsy also declared that
a 100-man council drafting a new constitution, plus the upper house of
parliament, cannot be dissolved. And he granted the council two more
months to finish a draft constitution, meaning the panel has six months
to finish.
That means Morsy, who
earlier this year took over legislative powers from the military council
that ruled after Mubarak's ouster, could have at least 6 months of unchecked rule by decree.
Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy waves to supporters in front of the
presidential palace in Cairo on Friday, Nov 23,2012. Thousands of
ecstatic supporters gathered outside the presidential palace to defend
their leader against accusations from rival protesters that he has
become a dictator.
Morsy supporters gather outside the presidential palace in Cairo on Friday, Nov 23,2012
Political rivals expressed dismay -
"Morsy is taking over the executive, judicial, and legislative powers in his hands, and this is a dangerous path,"
Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy’s decree has triggered violent clashes across Egypt, with the torching of
Muslim Brotherhood offices in some cities and street battles amid clouds
of teargas fired by police
State television is reporting that Morsy’s opponents have set ablaze
offices of the Muslim Brotherhood — the President’s party’s parent
organisation — in the Suez canal cities of Suez, Port Said and Ismailia.
In Alexandria, Mr. Morsy’s supporters and opponents fought pitched
battles after noon prayers with stones and chunks of marble pulled out
of a mosque.
Thousands of demonstrators march through the streets of Cairo to protest against Morsy on Friday Nov 23,2012
Egyptians protest over presidential powers - Tuesday, Nov 27,2012
Tens of thousands take part in a mass rally against a decree by
President Mohamed Morsy granting himself broad powers on Tuesday,
November 27, in Cairo. Activists have been camping out in Tahrir Square
since Friday to protest what they consider overreaching powers for the
president.
Protesters gather at sit-in tents in Tahrir Square on Sunday Nov 25,2012
Egyptian protesters hurl stones at police at Tahrir Square on Sunday Nov 25,2012
Egypt Approves New Constitution -Friday Nov 30,2012
Egypt’s Constituent Assembly on Friday approved a final draft of the
country’s first Constitution since the fall of former President Hosni
Mubarak.
The Assembly sent the draft to President Mohamed Morsy, who is expected to submit it for public approval in a referendum
Constitution at a glance
- Sharia remains the main source of legislation
- Al-Azhar, Sunni Islam's leading authority, to be consulted on "matters related to Sharia"
- Christianity and Judaism to be the main source of legislation for Christians and Jews
- Religious freedom to be limited to Muslims, Christians and Jews
- Limits president to two four-year terms of office
Egypt Constitution Vote Passes -Tuesday Dec 25,2012
Egypt's electoral commission has confirmed that a controversial,
Islamist-backed constitution was passed by 64% of voters,
rejecting opposition allegations of polling fraud.
Samir Abul Maati, the President of the National Electoral Commission,
told a Cairo news conference late Tuesday Dec 25,2012 that a total of 63.8 %
of valid ballots supported the new constitution.
Turnout was 32.9 %t, he said.
Egypt's Draft Constitution
Egypt’s draft constitution is made up of an introduction, an 11-part preamble and 236
articles .
Shariah (Islamic) law
Like a
previous constitution, the draft states, “Principles of Islamic Shariah
are the principal source of legislation.” For the first time, the draft
defines those principles, rooting them in “general evidence,
foundational rules” and other rules from the long tradition of Islamic
jurisprudence. Both critics and ultraconservative supporters of the
charter say that opens the doors for stricter imposition of Islamic law.
Role of clerics
The
draft gives Islamic clerics unprecedented powers with an article
stating, “Al—Azhar senior scholars are to be consulted in matters
pertaining to Islamic law,” referring to the most respected center of
scholarship and rulings in Sunni Islam.
Morals
An
article commits “the state and society” to “entrenching and protecting
the moral values” of “the authentic Egyptian family.” Critics worry the
broad phrasing will allow not only the government but also individuals
to intervene in personal rights.
Women’s rights
The
draft mentions women in the framework of the traditional Muslim family,
adding, “The state shall ensure maternal and child health services free
of charge and ensure reconciliation between the duties of a woman
toward her family and her work.” The preamble underlines equality “for
all citizens, men and women, without discrimination or nepotism or
preferential treatment, in both rights and duties.” But opponents charge
that the document does not protect women from discrimination.
Civil rights
The
draft guarantees freedom of expression, creativity, assembly and other
rights. It also has a direct ban on torture and stricter provisions
limiting detentions and searches by police. But it says the rights “must
be practiced in a manner not conflicting with” principles of Shariah or
the morals of the family. There is also a ban on insulting “religious
messengers and prophets,” opening the door to arrests of bloggers and
other activists.
News media
Independent
publications closed for a day to protest the lack of an article banning
arrest of journalists for what they write. The draft has this- “Freedom
of the press, printing, publication and mass media shall be guaranteed.
The media shall be free and independent...”
Religious minorities
The
draft guarantees the freedom of Christians and Jews to practice their
rites, live by their religions’ rule on marriage, inheritance and
personal status and establish places of worship. But it hedges those
rights on the condition they do not “violate public order” and that they
will be “regulated by law.” In the past, the building of churches has
been limited by law because of claims it disturbs public order. The
draft guarantees those rights for “the divine religions,” meaning
Christianity and Judaism, but not others, raising concerns of
persecution of smaller sects.
Military
The
charter ensures an independent status for the powerful military. The
president is the head of the national security council, but the defence
minister is the commander in chief of the armed forces and “appointed
from among its officers.” Control of the military budget is not
mentioned. It also allows civilians to be tried before military courts
in some cases.
Critics have raised concerns over issues including Islamic law and women’s rights
