Egypt’s parliamentary run-off vote abroad kicks of today

Egyptian expats will cast their votes for the run-offs of parliamentary elections Monday and Tuesday, where 426 candidates running on an individual basis will compete over 213 seats out of 222 seats contested in the second stage.

Nine seats have already been secured in November’s first phase of the second electoral stage.

All list-based seats were won by For the Love of Egypt, the list known to be loyal to Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi. This amounts to 120 out of 596 parliamentary seats won by the list, the first stage win included.

Over 100 candidates who are affiliated with ousted president Mubarak’s now-dissolved ruling party (the National Democratic party) will be competing in the run-offs, according to Yousri El-Azabawy, chairman of Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies’ Parliamentary Forum Unit.

A total of 37,141 Egyptian expatriates voted in the first phase of the second phase that took place between 21 and 23 November for Egyptians abroad and in the country. This marks an increase of around 22 percent compared to expat votes in the first stage in October.

Voting was highest in Saudi Arabia with a turnout of 30.4 percent, followed by 18.3 percent in Kuwait and 12.7 percent in the United Arab Emirates.

The total turnout of the November vote was 29.3 percent.

Source: Ahram Online