The Egyptian Social Democratic Party has demanded immediate intervention by the National Elections Authority to halt and investigate what it described as a series of “grave violations and electoral bribery” during the first phase of Egypt’s 2025 parliamentary elections.
In a statement seen by Al Manassa, the party’s election monitoring room reported what it called “serious breaches” in the electoral process. Among the violations, it alleged that pro-government parties were distributing campaign materials inside and around polling stations, as well as offering boxes containing food supplies and vote-buying incentives aimed at swaying voters.
The party also said some candidates and their representatives were barred from entering polling stations, a move it said undermines the principle of equal opportunity and calls into question the integrity of the process.
Instances of systematic voter direction inside certain polling stations in favor of pro-government candidates were also flagged in the party's statement, calling it “a flagrant breach of electoral neutrality.”
ESDP also urged authorities to investigate complaints by independent candidate Nashwa Eldeeb, who on Monday morning withdrew from the race in the Giza constituency of Imbaba and Gharb El-Mounira, just an hour after polls opened. Eldeeb cited the “absence of electoral fairness and transparency,” and said the outcome appeared “predetermined.”
“There are clear violations, no transparency, and no level playing field,” she said. “How can the results be decided before the voting even starts?”
Before her withdrawal, El-Deeb was competing for one of two seats in the district alongside Future of the Nation Party candidate Walid El-Meligy, Conservative Party’s Ihab El-Khouly, and independent Shadia Thabet.
Voting in the first round began Monday and continues through Tuesday across 14 governorates: Giza, Fayoum, Beni Suef, Minya, Assiut, New Valley, Sohag, Qena, Luxor, Aswan, Red Sea, Alexandria, Beheira and Matrouh.
Run-off voting for this phase will take place abroad on Dec. 1–2, and domestically on Dec. 3–4.
The second round begins Nov. 21–22 for voters abroad, and Nov. 24–25 for domestic voters, covering the governorates of Cairo, Qalyubia, Dakahlia, Menoufia, Gharbia, Kafr El-Sheikh, Sharqia, Damietta, Port Said, Ismailia, Suez, and both North and South Sinai. The second-round runoffs will be held abroad on Dec. 15–16 and in Egypt on Dec. 17–18.
Egypt’s House of Representatives consists of 596 members: 284 elected by individual candidacy, 284 by party list, and up to 28 appointed by the president, not to exceed 5% of the total.
Final results are expected to be announced by the National Elections Authority in late December.
