Khaled Elbalshy was re-elected as head of Egypt’s Journalists Syndicate on Friday, securing a second term after his initial victory in March 2023.
Elbalshy secured 3,346 votes, capturing 55% of the total ballots and defeating his closest rival, Abdel Mohsen Salama, by a margin of 784 votes.
The election drew strong participation from members of the syndicate’s general assembly, with over 9,900 dues-paying journalists eligible to vote across 24 committees nationwide, including one in Alexandria.
“Long live press freedom, long live journalists' unity, long live the syndicate’s general assembly!” Elbalshy declared from the vote-counting hall moments after his win was confirmed.
A veteran independant journalist, Elbalshy’s first term marked a shift away from years of state-aligned leadership in the syndicate, defined by open criticism of media restrictions and vocal advocacy for detained journalists and labor rights.
Elbalshy faced seven challengers for the post, including Abdel Mohsen Salama, a former syndicate head. The other candidates were Sayed Al-Iskandrani, Talaat Hashem, Mohsen Hashem, Mohamed Badawy, Mohamed El-Maghraby, and Nora Rashed.
Celebrations erupted even before the official results were announced, with supporters chanting “Say it, don’t be afraid, Elbalshy is our head!” inside the syndicate building in downtown Cairo.
Speaking to Al Manassa after the vote, Elbalshy described his re-election as a mandate to continue the path he began during his first term, with his second campaign running under the slogan "The dream lives on".
“This victory is a responsibility from a general assembly that wants free journalism, dignified services, and no compromises,” he stated.
Elbalshy pledged to prioritize long-standing demands such as releasing imprisoned journalists, defending editorial independence, and securing fair wages. “The large turnout today is not just support. It’s a call to stay on course without conditions or deals,” he said.
He also thanked his main rival Salama, for what he described as “an honorable contest,” adding, “It was a tough race, but a respectable one.”
