Cairo, 19 November 2025
The results of the first phase of the House of Representatives elections led to a complete absence of women’s representation in the individual seats, despite the presence of eighty-eight female candidates across fourteen governorates.
This outcome is not surprising in light of clear indicators of unequal opportunities, the misuse of political money, and interventions that undermined the integrity of the electoral process.
The National Elections Authority also announced the annulment of the elections in nineteen individual constituencies— a figure that reflects the scale of violations and confirms the presence of structural problems in the administration of the individual system, undermining the constitutional guarantees of the right to run for office and the freedom of choice as stipulated in Articles 4, 9, 11, and 87 of the Constitution.
The Individual System: An Inequitable Electoral Environment for Both Women and Men
The shortcomings of the individual (district-based) system do not affect female candidates alone; they impact all candidates alike. This is due to several factors:
- The dominance of political money and the lack of effective oversight over campaign spending.
- The influence of local power networks, tribal affiliations, and loyalties in shaping electoral outcomes.
- Insufficient transparency and disclosure regarding how the electoral process was conducted in several districts.
- The absence of safeguards to prevent manipulation or unlawful influence over voters’ choices.
- The re-running of elections in 19 districts, a clear sign of significant failures in managing the electoral process.
Such conditions structurally make competition in individual constituencies unfair. This explains the zero outcome for women and raises serious questions about whether the individual system is capable of delivering meaningful representation based on equality and non-discrimination.
At the same time, while women have achieved success through the list system, it does not offer a true alternative to real competition. The system remains influenced by broad political considerations, and its internal selection criteria—for both women and men—require a fundamental review to ensure transparency and representation that is real, rather than merely symbolic.
Therefore, The Egyptian Center for Women’s Rights (ECWR) emphasizes that ensuring equal political participation requires:
- Comprehensive reform of the individual system, addressing procedural and oversight shortcomings.
- Effective monitoring of electoral financing and prevention of political money.
- Development of transparent mechanisms to ensure the integrity of the electoral process and prevent repeated annulments of constituencies.
- Review of selection criteria within party lists to guarantee meaningful representation for both women and men.
The absence of women from individual seats is a direct result of an unfair and unequal electoral environment. This can only be addressed through a comprehensive reform of the entire electoral system.
