Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Egypt Elects New Upper Chamber of Parliament as Heat, COVID-19 Weigh on
Popular Enthusiasm

Edward Yeranian

   CAIRO - Voter turnout was mostly mixed at polling stations in the
   Egyptian capital Cairo, in a two-day election designed to resurrect an
   upper house of Parliament that was eliminated by the country's 2014
   constitution.

   Many Egyptians appeared less than enthusiastic about the operation,
   with some complaining the chamber will have little or no real power.
   Government supporters, however, said the body was conceived to play a
   mostly consultative role.

   Some candidates for the new Senate spoke to voters in person to get out
   the vote, while billboards and banners dotted the capital's urban
   landscape with photos and portraits of rival candidates. Most people
   went about business as usual amid the summer heat, with some telling
   VOA they planned to vote before polls closed Wednesday night.

   Government officials, including the president, prime minister and other
   top officials, were filmed Tuesday casting their ballots, on the first
   day of voting. More than 14,000 judges have been posted at polling
   stations across the country to supervise the election, while police and
   military have been deployed in strategic places to ensure voting takes
   place in relative safety.

   Egyptian political sociologist Said Sadek tells VOA that Egypt
   "historically had a senate until 1952," when the monarchy was
   overthrown. President Anwar Sadat, he notes, "copied the U.S. Senate,
   after a visit to Washington in 1980, calling it the Majlis al Shura
   (Consultative Council)."

   "The body officially played an advisory role to Parliament, while in
   practice rewarding loyalists with a post," Sadek argues. "The 2011
   election got rid of it for being a waste of money. Historically,
   turnout has been low for the Shura Council or Senate."

   Sadek said, "The summer heat and COVID19 will make for a low turnout"
   this time around, too.

.