Egyptian parliamentary elections overseas conclude with higher turnout

CAIRO - 24 November 2025: Voting at Egyptian embassies and consulates ceased Saturday in the second round of the lower house parliamentary elections.

For Egyptians abroad, there were 139 polling stations across 117 countries. The second phase covers 13 Egyptian governorates. 

Voting proceeded smoothly on the second day for Egyptians abroad, according to the National Elections Authority (NEA) Ahmed Bendary.

Bendary held a video conference with heads of polling stations overseas, who reported a higher voter turnout in the second round compared to the first. 

Egypt's Ambassador to Russia, Hamdi Shaaban, noted a significant turnout from the Egyptian community in Moscow.

Similarly, Egypt's Consul General in Marseille, Amr El-Rashidi, pointed to higher voter density, as the Egyptian community there is concentrated in governorates participating in the second round. 

Egypt's Ambassador to Lebanon, Alaa Moussa, also noted increased turnout due to a large percentage of the community residing in Cairo Governorate.

Hisham Farid, Secretary-General of the Coalition of Egyptian Communities in Europe, said turnout of Egyptians abroad in Europe increased on Saturday, according to Asharq Al-Awsat.

He told the newspaper the turnout rose on the final day because most community members were busy with work on the first day, Nov. 21.  

Farid said turnout in Europe is generally lower than in Arab countries due to smaller Egyptian communities.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s intervention demanding a review of candidates’ appeals during the first phase influenced participation rates, Farid said.

Election results in 19 districts were revoked by NEA, and 251 legal appeals against the first phase results were submitted by candidates to the Supreme Administrative Court.

Abdel Nasser Qandil, an expert on parliamentary systems, also noted high voter turnout at overseas polling stations in the second phase, attributing it to the NEA's decisive measures against electoral violations. 

Alaa Shalabi, head of the Arab Organization for Human Rights (an election monitoring group), told Asharq Al-Awsat that the NEA's decisions "positively impacted voter turnout abroad." 

Similarly, he predicted higher domestic turnout in the second phase.