Egypt’s president appoints final third of Senate with 12 women and inclusive picks

CAIRO – 12 October 2025: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has appointed the final 100 members of the Senate, completing the formation of the 300-seat upper house following the August elections.

The 100 presidential appointees include 12 women, meeting the legal requirement that at least 10% of appointments be female and underscoring a commitment to gender representation.

Among the appointees are prominent figures from politics, academia, and civil society.

Notably, Sahar Nasr, former Minister of Investment and International Cooperation and Secretary-General of the Zakat and Charities Fund, has been appointed.

The appointments also feature well-known personalities from arts and sports, including veteran actor Yasser Galal and notable sports commentator Seif Zaher, a former member of the Egyptian Football Association’s board.

Former Grand Mufti Shawki Allam and Hazem Omar, head of the People’s Republican Party and a presidential contender in the 2024 elections, are also among the Senate appointees.

From left, notable sports commentator Seif Zaher, former Minister of Investment Sahar Nasr, and veteran actor Yasser Galal

The newly elected Senate convened in early October, a month after the results were announced on 4 September.

The 200 elected members were chosen through a dual system: 100 via closed-list proportional representation and 100 from individual constituencies.

The Mostaqbal Watan Party secured the largest share with 102 seats across both systems, accounting for more than one-third of the chamber.

Other parties with significant representation include the Homeland Defenders Party (Homat Al-Watan), the National Front Party, and the People’s Republican Party.

The August vote marked the second Senate elections since the chamber was reconstituted in 2019. According to the National Election Authority (NEA), 11.65 million voters participated in the first round, representing a turnout of 17.1%.

With the completion of the presidential appointments, the Senate is now fully formed and ready to begin its advisory and legislative roles in shaping Egypt’s national policies.