Voting began Saturday in the Talkha constituency in Daqahleya governorate to replace expelled MP Tawfik Okasha’s seat.
Voting began Friday and concluded on Saturday for Egyptian expatriates, whereas it started on Saturday and resumes Sunday for domestic voters.
MPs voted to expel Okasha from Egypt’s legislative body in early March after he held a meeting with the Israeli ambassador to Egypt.
During the meeting, Okasha made assurances regarding supplying water resources to Israel if Israel supported Egypt in the conflict over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
Sixteen candidates were accepted to run for the vacant seat out of 28 candidates after the selection process by the Supreme Electoral Commission (SEC).
The SEC announced that if there is a run-off for the voting, it will take place between 26 and 27 April abroad and in Egypt on 27 and 28 April.
Among the 16 candidates were Major-General Gamal Abdel Zaher and Mohamed Al-Shora. On his Facebook page, Abdel Zaher urged the people of Talkha to vote for him. “This is an opportunity to support a candidate who will live up to your aspirations.”
Al-Shora, who previously ran for a parliamentary seat in the initial round of elections, said in his earlier campaign that providing job opportunities for youth will be at the top of his agenda.
However, he acknowledged his definitive support for President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi. “We are the ones who supported Al-Sisi all the way and support the constitution,” Al-Shora said.
After being elected, Okasha ran for the position of parliamentary speaker, which he lost to Abdul Aal. He was the source of several controversies in the parliament, and was absent from the parliamentary session in which Al-Sisi addressed MPs.
