A number of candidates who had previously announced their withdrawal from Egypt’s parliamentary elections have reversed course and reentered the race, just days before voting resumes in constituencies where the first round results were annulled.
Among those returning are Kamal El-Daly, National Front Party candidate in Giza; Ahmed Mortada Mansour, an independent running in the same district; and Amr El-Katamy, a former MP from the pro-government Nation’s Future Party, who is contesting the 6th of October, Sheikh Zayed, and Wahat constituency. El-Katamy rescinded his withdrawal only two days after announcing it.
These withdrawals were submitted after the National Elections Authority's legal deadline of Oct. 25, meaning they should have had no official effect. The candidates' names remained on the ballot.
In a Facebook post, El-Daly said he had requested to withdraw, but the NEA rejected it due to the missed deadline. He justified his return by citing the Higher Administrative Court ruling that ordered a rerun in his constituency, following a legal challenge by another candidate. The court ordered a new vote among 11 contenders for Giza’s second seat.
El-Daly, a former governor of Giza and first-time parliamentary contender, praised President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for his “decisive and unwavering national commitment to safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process and ensuring every citizen's right to choose their representatives freely and transparently.”
“The Egyptian state today stands tall in defense of truth and justice, thanks to divine grace and the vigilance of its wise political leadership,” he added.
El-Daly also commended the judiciary and security forces for their role in protecting the election and upholding the will of voters.
Party sources had previously suggested to Al Manassa that El-Daly would withdraw after losing internal support, particularly from influential figure Mohamed Aboul Enein. El-Daly instead thanked National Front Party leader Assem El-Gazzar, deputy leader Aboul Enein, and other party figures for their “unbreakable support,” calling it proof that “genuine national service is carried out by men who honor their commitments.”
Giza’s two-seat constituency has also undergone dramatic shifts. Ahmed El-Waleed, from Nation’s Future Party, secured one seat. The second was to be decided in a runoff between El-Daly and independent Hesham Badawy. However, the Higher Administrative Court annulled the result, ordering a rerun in this district and 29 others, citing procedural violations.
In the same constituency, and despite the legally mandated electoral silence, Ahmed Mortada Mansour posted a video on his social media declaring his return to the race. “To my family and siblings in Agouza, Dokki, and Giza—the people I grew up with—thank you for your messages. We’re continuing this journey together, God willing,” he said.
In 6th of October and Sheikh Zayed, Amr El-Katamy released a second video reversing his previous withdrawal. He had originally declared his exit from the race on Dec. 4, shortly after the court annulled voting in his district.
In the updated video, he said the NEA refused to process his withdrawal due to its late submission. “I need your support. Every patriot must go out and vote,” he added.
The reruns are set for Wednesday and Thursday in 30 districts, following final, unappealable rulings from the Higher Administrative Court on Nov. 29, which invalidated the NEA's announcement of results in these races.
Both rounds of parliamentary voting were marred by widespread violations, including campaign materials placed near polling stations, the failure to provide candidates and agents with vote count summaries, and inconsistencies between polling station tallies and final results.
In response to these irregularities, President El-Sisi called on the NEA to review reported violations. The authority subsequently annulled results in 19 districts, with the court expanding that number to 30.
