Egypt’s National Authority Denies Receiving Any Complaints Affecting Elections

A man casts his ballot at a school used as a polling station, during the first round of Egypt's parliamentary elections in Giza, Egypt. (Reuters)
A man casts his ballot at a school used as a polling station, during the first round of Egypt's parliamentary elections in Giza, Egypt. (Reuters)
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Egypt’s National Authority Denies Receiving Any Complaints Affecting Elections

A man casts his ballot at a school used as a polling station, during the first round of Egypt's parliamentary elections in Giza, Egypt. (Reuters)
A man casts his ballot at a school used as a polling station, during the first round of Egypt's parliamentary elections in Giza, Egypt. (Reuters)

Egypt’s National Elections Authority (NEA) denied receiving any complaints that would affect the electoral process, as the polls closed on the last day of the first phase of parliamentary elections.

Egyptians voted in 14 governorates amid strict health and security measures.

Head of NEA Lashin Ibrahim announced that authorities implemented strict precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus at polling stations.

He said the authority did not receive any complaints that would affect the elections as a whole, stating that the operating room continues to receive inquiries and complaints from all parties and is responding to them promptly.

Meanwhile, head of the Arab League mission tasked with observing the elections, Ahmed Rachid Khattabi, stressed that the process took place smoothly given the legal, organizational and procedural measures taken by the Authority.

He stated that the extensive security, logistic and precautionary measures had a positive impact on the overall electoral performance, allowing voters to cast their votes and carry out their national duty in a safe environment.

The Arab League issued a statement on Sunday praising the good organization of the polls, which reflects a confident political will to consolidate the foundations of the state of institutions and citizenship, the pillars of the rule of law, and rules of free choice.

Khattabi highlighted the 2019 constitutional amendments that allocated no less than 25 percent of parliamentary seats to female candidates.

This is a strong and clear indication of the state's desire to develop the political and electoral arena, which paves the way for a real female representation in the parliament, he added.

The second stage of the vote is scheduled on Nov. 7-8 in the country’s 13 other provinces, including Cairo and the Sinai Peninsula. The voting concludes with runoff elections.

A total of 568 seats in the lower chamber are up for grabs, with more than 4,000 candidates running as individuals competing for half of the seats. The other half of elected seats in the chamber are reserved for the more than 1,100 candidates running on four party lists.

The country's president will name 28 seats, or 5%, bringing the total number of seats in the lower chamber to 596.



France Says Algeria Threatening to Expel Diplomatic Staff 

This handout photograph released by French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE) shows France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot meeting with Algeria's Foreign Minister at the ministry headquarters in Algiers on April 6, 2025. (AFP Photo / Handout / Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs)
This handout photograph released by French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE) shows France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot meeting with Algeria's Foreign Minister at the ministry headquarters in Algiers on April 6, 2025. (AFP Photo / Handout / Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs)
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France Says Algeria Threatening to Expel Diplomatic Staff 

This handout photograph released by French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE) shows France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot meeting with Algeria's Foreign Minister at the ministry headquarters in Algiers on April 6, 2025. (AFP Photo / Handout / Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs)
This handout photograph released by French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE) shows France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot meeting with Algeria's Foreign Minister at the ministry headquarters in Algiers on April 6, 2025. (AFP Photo / Handout / Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs)

France said on Monday that Algeria had threatened to expel 12 of its diplomatic staff and that it would take immediate reprisals should that occur in the latest flare-up between them.

Algeria protested over the weekend against Frances's detention of an Algerian consular agent suspected of involvement in the kidnapping of an Algerian. French media said three people, including the diplomat, were under investigation over the seizure of Algerian government opponent Amir Boukhors.

"The Algerian authorities are demanding that 12 of our agents leave Algerian territory within 48 hours," French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said in a statement.

"If the decision to expel our agents is maintained, we will have no choice but to respond immediately."

There was no immediate confirmation from Algeria of an imminent expulsion.

France's relations with its former colony have long been complicated, but took a turn for the worse last year when French President Emmanuel Macron angered Algeria by backing Morocco's position over the disputed Western Sahara region.

Only last week, Barrot had said ties were returning to normal after a visit to Algeria.