International media: House of Representatives elections take place amid strong national pride

alhadath – cairo

The first phase of the House of Representatives elections, which began on Monday, November 10, 2025, has attracted significant international media attention. Accredited correspondents in Egypt—representing approximately 86 international media organizations, including news agencies, newspapers, online platforms, and television channels—have covered the elections extensively. Numerous other Arab and international outlets also followed and reported on the process.

Journalist Diaa Rashwan, Chairman of the State Information Service (SIS), stated that the SIS, through its Foreign Correspondents Press Center, closely monitored the activities of international media covering the elections in the governorates of the first phase. The SIS provided all necessary facilitation and promptly addressed any concerns raised by correspondents. Most requests focused on covering and filming inside polling stations. These were addressed through coordination with the National Elections Authority and presiding judges, who allowed media access based on crowd density and the number of voters, ensuring smooth coverage while maintaining procedural integrity.

The Chairman added that monitoring conducted by the SIS via its election operations room confirmed strong international interest in the elections. Coverage highlighted the safeguards put in place by the National Elections Authority to ensure integrity, as well as judicial supervision and oversight by local and international civil society, which were widely recognized as key strengths. Reports also emphasized the pivotal role of the House of Representatives in Egypt’s political and parliamentary life.

Diaa Rashwan noted that the SIS tracked dozens of international reports spanning the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, the Arab world, and major news websites. Coverage appeared in multiple languages, including Arabic, English, Italian, Spanish, French, Russian, German, Turkish, Persian, Chinese, Hindi, Hebrew, Korean, Japanese, and more. Media formats included news bulletins, television segments, press articles, and online reports.

International coverage largely took an objective, news-focused approach, highlighting the security and stability in which the elections were conducted and the role of state institutions in facilitating voter participation. Reports detailed procedural aspects, candidates, competing party lists, and the broader electoral context, with some discussion around the choice between closed or proportional list systems and changes in the party map compared to previous elections.

Many international outlets underscored the elections as a pivotal political moment for Egypt. The newly elected House of Representatives will face critical challenges, including enhancing transparency, improving mechanisms for monitoring government performance, and strengthening the effectiveness of economic and administrative legislation to support investment and local production. The House is also expected to contribute to national dialogue and its legislative follow-up, fostering political participation and public trust. These elections come at a crucial moment, intersecting domestic development efforts with significant regional and international transformations, placing substantial legislative, oversight, and political responsibilities on the upcoming parliament.

A broad trend in international media, particularly across Arab outlets, highlighted that the elections are taking place amid strong national pride, following the grand opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, which attracted notable international participation and media coverage. This follows Egypt’s successful organization of two major international events within less than a month—the Grand Egyptian Museum inauguration and the Peace Summit in Sharm El-Sheikh.

Coverage also noted the remarkable turnout of Egyptians abroad, reflecting their commitment to consolidating the country’s security and stability. Voting abroad took place in 139 subcommittees across Egyptian embassies and consulates in 117 countries, with significant participation from Egyptians in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, and other Arab and European nations, surpassing the turnout recorded during the Senate elections last August.

International reports additionally focused on the competitive nature of the elections, conducted through both party lists and individual candidacy systems, highlighting the vigorous contests among parties and independent candidates across constituencies.