National Dialogue in Egypt reveals consensus on local councils elections system

CAIRO - 9 August 2023: General Coordinator for the National Dialogue in Egypt Diaa Rashwan announced a consensus that the upcoming local councils elections would comprise 75% from absolute closed lists and 25% from proportional lists. This distribution ensures representation for all constitutionally mandated categories.

This is the first time a consensus has been reached on an electoral system, signaling a positive shift toward broader agreement in Egyptian politics.

Rashwan noted the dissolution of local councils in Egypt since 2011 by a judicial ruling has hindered communication of citizens' concerns to executive leadership, emphasizing their crucial role in overseeing the work of the governor, city council, and districts.

The general coordinator for the national dialogue stated that the essence of the national dialogue sessions lies in the ongoing dialogue itself, which persistently exists regardless of the committee presence. This resonates with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's call for continuous societal engagement to prioritize national interest.

Rashwan, during his appearance on the "News Talk" program with journalist Nada Reda on "Extra News" TV channel, revealed that participants in the national dialogue have successfully moved past previous discord. All parties sat down together, with only one small party from the civil movement opting out. The entirety of the movement and its public figures participated actively.

Rashwan pointed out that the dialogue sessions, amounting to 52 in number, each lasting a minimum of 4 hours, were transparently broadcast live. The Egyptian populace and the world were privy to unedited content, witnessing various participants freely voicing their opinions.

He confirmed that the committee organizers and their assistants in the national dialogue represented various political spectrums, and the selection process ensured diversity. Post the public sessions, specialized closed-door meetings took place, involving approximately 20 individuals, to crystallize discussions and draft recommendations for the President.

Additionally, Rashwan addressed Egypt's population density as a burden on the state, considering current resources. However, with increased resources, the populous nature could become advantageous. He underscored Europe's past efforts in population reduction and Egypt's current challenge to augment resources and economic conditions to accommodate its population size.

Rashwan also shed light on the quality of the population, highlighting the need for improved training and qualification to enhance the Egyptian workforce, pointing out that the primary issue is not merely the number of people, but also other factors like training and resources.