Egyptians’ Enthusiasm Ebbs as Elections End

Egypt on Saturday held its second round of parliamentary elections, as millions of citizens voted for 568 legislators in the state’s lower house. A further 28 lawmakers will be appointed by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who holds large sway over the legislative body and is primed to tighten his grip. As a result of a national referendum held last year, a quarter of the seats up for election are reserved for women. The first phase of the 2020 election took place last weekend in 14 governorates across the country, when just over 9 million out of 63 million eligible Egyptians voters cast their ballots, a relatively low turnout. The new parliament will be the second to convene under el-Sisi, who rose to power in 2014 after leading a military coup against then-President Mohamed Morsi.