Meet newly-elected speaker of Egypt's parliament Hanafy Ali El Gebali

CAIRO – 12 January 2020: Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Constitutional Court Chancellor Hanafy Ali El Gebali was elected, Tuesday as the new Speaker of Egypt’s House of representatives.

“I come from a very simple family in Upper Egypt.” Gebali said in his nomination speech during the inaugural session.

He added that he served as the former president of the Constitutional Court, holds a doctorate in constitutional law. “I began my life as the Deputy of Attorney General, then moved to the State Council, and appointed to the Constitutional Court”, the newly-elected speaker said

Gebali was born on July 14, 1949 (71 years old), he graduated from the Faculty of Law, Cairo University in 1975, then obtained a postgraduate diploma in criminal law from the Faculty of Law at Ain Shams University in 1977. He completed his education in Ain Shams University and obtained master's and PhD degrees.

The newly-elected speaker started his judicial work as the Deputy of the Attorney General, then he was appointed to the State Council, in which he promoted until becoming an assistant Chancellor, then he was chosen to join the Supreme Constitutional Court.

Gebali was chosen as a member of the court since 2001, later he became its president succeeding Chancellor Abdel Wahab Abdel Razek in June 2018, until his retirement in 2019.

Chancellor Hanafy El Gebali known for his excessive knowledge and study for law. He has many publications and books which were translated to different languages and participated in many international conferences.

As a president to the Supreme Constitutional Court, he issued up to 227 rulings in several cases.

Gebali was nominated to the post by the National List for Egypt, which has the majority of seats in Egypt's 2021 parliament with up to 284 seats.

Other three candidates competed Gebali for the Speaker’s post, including former official at the Administrative Control Authority Mohamed Salah Abou Hemela, Medical doctor Ahmed Abdel Hakim Youssef Darag and Mohamed Medina, member of Al Wafd Party.

Members of the parliament casted their ballots electing the new speaker during the inaugural session of Parliament 2021, which was headed by Farida Shobashi as the oldest member. She is also the first woman to chair the opening session of the House of Representatives.