High-profile MPs affiliated with “Support Egypt,” a political bloc in support of President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi, won the lion’s share of the leading posts of parliament’s 25 committees. At least seven “Support Egypt” MPs were even able to win the seats uncontested.
Topping the list of “Support Egypt” winners are Osama Heikal, a former information minister and the current chairman of the Egyptian Media Production City, who was elected head of parliament’s Media, Culture and Antiquities Committee.
Heikal said the “Support Egypt” bloc refused to field candidates for the leading posts of all parliamentary committees. “We fielded candidates in 16 committees only, allowing other political factions to compete and win posts,” said Heikal.
Heikal won 10 votes out of a total 18. Youssef Al-Qaeed, a high-profile novelist, an appointed MP and Heikal’s only rival, got just ten votes. Al-Qaeed told reporters that he lost after he withdraw from the competition in protest at the vote counting process.
As expected, businessmen MPs achieved good results, winning the leading posts of committees closely related to their businesses.
Mohamed Al-Sewedi, a Support Egypt official and chairman of the Egyptian Federation of Industries, was elected head of the Industry Committee. Al-Sewedi is a major producer of electric cables and engineering equipment.
Talaat Al-Sewedi, a leading official affiliated with Al-Wafd party, was elected chairman of the Energy and Environment Committee. Al-Sewedi, a former MP since 2000 and a relative to Mohamed Al-Sewedi, is an accountant.
Mohamed Farag Amer, a major Alexandria industrialist and a Support Egypt official, was elected head of the Youth and Sports Committee. Amer is chairman of Alexandria’s Semouha Sporting Club.
The high-profile Alexandria businesswoman and “Support Egypt” MP Sahar Talaat Mostafa was elected head of the Tourism and Civil Aviation Committee. Mostafa’s late father, Talaat, was a major Alexandria contractor and MP in the 1990s. Sahar’s two brothers, Tarek and Hesham, were also former MPs. Hesham, the founder of two high-class communities in East Cairo (Al-Rehab and Madinaty) has been serving 15 years in prison since 2008 after he was found guilty of inciting a former police officer to kill a Lebanese actress.
Sahar Talaat Mostafa won uncontested.
Moataz Mohamed Mahmoud, a contractor and chairman of the “Freedom Party,” was elected chairman of the Housing, Public Utilities and Reconstruction Committee. Moataz’s father, Mohamed Mahmoud, was chairman of parliament’s Housing Committee between 2000 and 2005.
Hussein Eissa, an appointed MP and a Support Egypt official, was elected chairman of the influential Budget and Plan Committee. Eissa, a professor of commerce with PhD from the US, was the former president of Ain Shams University.
Ali Al-Moselhi, a former minister of social solidarity, was elected chairman of the Economic Affairs Committee. Al-Moselhi, an independent, defeated “Support Egypt’s” candidate Ashraf Al-Arabi, a former chairman of the Tax Authority.
Mohamed Al-Orabi, a former foreign minister and a “Support Egypt” official, was elected chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. Al-Orabi, also a former Egypt ambassador in Germany, won unopposed.
Saad Al-Gammal, a former MP and chairman of the “Support Egypt” bloc, was elected head of the Arab Affairs Committee. Al-Gammal, a former leading official of former president Hosni Mubarak’s ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) and chairman of 2005-2010 parliament’s Arab Affairs Committee, won unopposed after two rivals, journalists Osama Sharshar and Abdel-Rehim Ali, decided to withdraw.
Bahaaeddin Abu Shukka, an appointed MP and secretary-general of the Wafd party, was elected chairman of the Legislative and Constitutional Affairs Committee. Abu Shukka, a prominent lawyer and the parliamentary spokesperson of Al-Wafd, won unopposed.
Kamal Amer, a former intelligence officer, was elected chairman of the Defence and National Security Committee. Amer, the parliamentary spokesperson of the pro-Sisi “Guardians of the Nation” party, won uncontested.
Hammam Al-Adli, a “Support Egypt” official and MP from Upper Egypt, was elected chairman of the Proposals and Complaints Committee.
Gibali Al-Maraghi, a “Support Egypt” official and chairman of the General Egyptian Federation of Trade Unions (GEFTU), was elected head of the Labour Force Committee. Al-Maraghi also won unopposed.
Mohamed Anwar Essmat Al-Sadat, chairman of the liberal Reform and Development Party, was elected head of the Human Rights Committee. Sadat, the nephew of late president Anwar Al-Sadat, faced stiff competition from Alaa Abed, the parliamentary spokesperson of the Free Egyptians Party. While Sadat got 36 votes, Abed got only nine votes although the latter’s party has the biggest number of seats in parliament (65).
The Free Egyptians Party, however, was able to sweep the Transport Committee. Saeed Tiama, a former police officer and a leading official of the Free Egyptians Party, was elected head of the Transport Committee. Tiama was elected unopposed.
Hesham Al-Shieni, a “Support Egypt” official and an Upper Egypt MP, was elected chairman of the Agriculture, Irrigation, Food Security and Animal Wealth Committee.
Ahmed Al-Sigini, deputy of Al-Wafd party’s parliamentary spokesperson, was elected chairman of the Local Administration Committee.
Hatem Patshat, a former intelligence officer and a leading official affiliated with the Free Egyptians Party, was elected head of the African Affairs Committee.
May Batran, a “Support Egypt official” and a board member of an information technology and training company, was the second woman to become head of a parliamentary committee. Batran was elected chairman of the Telecommunication and Technology Transfer Committee.
Osama Al-Abd, another “Support Egypt” official and former president of Al-Azhar University, was elected chairman of the Religious and Wakfs (endowments) Committee.
Magdi Morshed, deputy chairman of the liberal Congress Party, was elected head of the Health Affairs Committee.
Gamal Shiha, a liver diseases professor at Mansoura University, was elected chairman of the Education and Scientific Research Committee.
Mohamed Ali Youssef, a “Support Egypt” official, was elected chairman of the Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises Committee.
Abdel Hadi El-Qasabi, head of the Islamic Sufi sects and a Support Egypt official, was elected chairman of the Social Solidarity, Family and the Physically Challenged Affairs Committee.
source: Ahram Online
