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At a glance

Structure of Parliament: Bicameral

Are there legislated quotas...

  • Yes for the Single/Lower House?
  • No for the Upper House?
  • No at the Sub-national level?

Are there voluntary quotas...

  • No adopted by political parties?

Is there additional information?

Yes

Egypt

(Arab Republic of Egypt)

Single/Lower house

Majlis Al-Chaab / People's Assembly

Total seats:508
Total women:10
% women: 2%
Election year:2012
Electoral system:Parallel
Quota type: Legislated Candidate Quotas
Election details: IDEA Voter Turnout
IPU Parline
Legal sourceDetails
Quota type:
Legislated Candidate Quotas		 Electoral law In the Nov 2011-Jan 2012 elections to the new Egyptian parliament, only 8 women (1.8 %) were elected. The supreme council of the military forces (SCAF) appointed additional 10 MPs, whereof 2 are women, bringing women's overall share to 2.2 %.  The reserved seat system from the 2010 election was abandoned. Instead, in the new parallel electoral system, parties are obliged to nominate at least one woman as part of their district candidate lists which they have to submit for the 46 districts electing 332 seats contested through a PR system.
Legal sanctions for non-compliance: N/A No data available
Rank order/placement rules: N/A No data available

Sources | Additional information | Contact us

Last updated 2012-05-25

Additional information

In 1979, Egypt adopted a guaranteed representation formula reserving 30 seats (out of 360 seats) for women in parliament. In late 1986, however, this quota for women was cancelled in a general revision of the electoral laws.

In 2007, Article 62 of the Egypt Constitution was amended: "The law ... may also stipulate a minimum representation of women in the afore-mentioned councils [People's Assembly, the Shura Council and local councils]".

Reserved seats in the 2010-elections
The Law 38 of 1972 concerning the Egyptian People's Assembly (Lower House) was amended in June 2009 to provide 64 seats to which the nominations was restricted to women only. The total number of parliamentary seats was enhanced accordingly. From 28 governorates two women was elected, one of whom represented labourers and farmers, in accordance with the at the time present 50 percent quota provision for these groups. In Cairo and Alexandria, due to the higher population, in total 8 more seats was added. The law only applied to the Lower House.

Last updated 2012-01-13

Sources

The Constitution of the Arab Republic of Egypt 1971 (as Amended to 2007) Article 62. ; Law No. 38 of on the Egyptian People's Assembly (as Amended to 2009) Article 1(1,3), 2, 3

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