Editorial Table of contents Letter from Cairo A Century and a half of Egyptian Parliament A bi-monthly periodical on the p.4 current political, economic, and cultural developments in Egypt It is well known that Egypt knew parliamentary life 150 years ago. Most historians agree that Egyptian Parliament... the first assembly that can be compared to a Western parliament was established in 1866 Issued by Foreign Information Sector by Khedive Ismail (1863-1879). Along such period, Egypt’s parliamentary history witnessed State Information Service Oldest legislative various evolutions and names to its parliamentary councils, starting from the High Council, Arab Republic of Egypt institution in the Arab the Consultation Council, the Advisory Council of Laws, then adopting the two-council system (senate and representatives) upon adopting 1923 Constitution, then returning to World, Africa & Middle East the one-council system upon July 23, 1952 Revolution. As of 1979, the two-council system was adopted. Following the approval of the 2014 Constitution, Egypt now has a unicameral parliament, House of Representatives. Chairman of SIS Ambassador Egypt’s new parliament, which opened 10 January, is the most empowered and diverse parliamentary body in Egyptian history. For example, women made extraordinary gains Salah A. Elsadek p.17 and now hold 89 seats in the House of Representatives, making the highest percentage of female representation (14.9 percent) in parliament’s 150-year history. The same is also true about Christians whose number now stands at 39 (6.5 percent) while the number of political parties represented in parliament rose to 19, with 245 MPs (41.1 per cent). The Biography of House Speaker Parliament was seated with expanded authorities and derives its power from a progressive Editor-in-Chief new Constitution, which was approved through a referendum in January 2014 and marked Dr. Ali Abdel-Aal the first in a series of key milestones in Egypt’s democratic evolution. The newly elected Abdel Mo'ti Abu Zeid members of Egypt’s House of Representatives will now play a pivotal role in fulfilling the peoples’ desire for equitable prosperity and enduring liberty, stability and social justice. Executive Editor In line with Egypt’s pivotal African role, Egypt hosts the October session of the Pan- African Parliament, in Sharm el-Sheikh which coincides with Egypt’s celebration marking the Nashwa Abdel Hamid 150 anniversary of the inception of parliamentary life in Egypt .Improving ties with Africa p.28-29 in general and with the Nile Basin states in particular has been a priority in post-30 June Egypt President Sisi visited Equatorial Guinea to attend the African Union summit, his first international meeting since becoming president. El-Sisi’s participation in the AU summit in June 2014 was another breakthrough in Egypt’s relations with Africa, as it contributed to lifting the ban on Egypt’s membership of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council, Layout thawing Egyptian-African relations. Historically, Egypt played a major role in the founding Nisreen Ahmed of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and establishing structures of the African Union. African countries have gained prominence in Egypt’s foreign policy in recent years as Egypt has shown increased willingness to participate in all activities of the Pan-African Parliament. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi affirmed the importance of the Pan-African Parliament as a Egypt and the Pan-African Parliament legal institution and praised the developments of its procedures and protocol over the past One Africa, One Voice few years. The current issue of “Letter from Cairo” offers a panoramic analysis of the history of parliamentary life in Egypt, the rise and evolution of political life, the constitutional history of Egypt with special emphasis on the current Constitution and Egypt’s historic relations with the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Pan-African Parliament as well. 2 3 SIS Website: http://sis.gov.eg Email: [email protected] The Egyptian Parliament is the dynasty was able to unite the north applied a successful system of oldest legislative institution in the and south of Egypt in one state. self-rule since the era of old Egyptian Parliament... Oldest legislative Arab World. It emerged with the He enacted the oldest legislative Kingdom. Since the Third and consultative representative sys- systems in human history when Fourth Ddynasties of the old institution in the Arab World, Middle East & Africa tems that started since Mohamed he regarded the law of “Tehut”, Egyptian Kingdoms, different Ali assumed office and set down the god of wisdom, as the only decrees and legislations were the principle regulations for the ruling law throughout Egypt. King drawn, for example, the one Supreme Council. It was one of Mina made the city of “Manf” specifying the working hours the first parliamentary attempts a capital and an administrative for the farmer and the time to regulate the relationship be- centre for the first unified cen- this work is to be conducted. tween the ruler and the people, tralized state in history ever to Also the legislation of King Men- until Khedive Ismail came on 22 have an organized body govern- kauraa aiming at the abolition October 1866 and established ment, administration, judiciary, of serfdom. In the era of the the first representative parlia- education, police, army…etc. The Middle Kingdom “Rakhmiraa”, ment in the true sense of the remnants of the Ancient Egyptian the prime minister and head word, namely the “Representa- civilization from the eras of the of judicial of king Thutmose III, tive Consultative Council” (Maglis Old, Middle and Modern King- left a complete record on the Shura al-Nowwab), modeled on doms (2980 -11500 BC) stand walls of his tomb in Thebes for the modern Western mode of proof of success achieved by the the legislations specifying the establishing elected legislative ancient Egyptians in the systems competences and functions of institutions. These institutions of government and administra- a minister. represented the electorate and tion. The King (pharaoh) was the In the Pharaonic Modern voiced their interests to the ex- Head of the State, next was the ecutive authority. The aim was Kingdom, King “Hur Muheb” Great Treasurer or Tax Collector. had a prominent role as he was to implement the modernizing Public officials were appointed theories of Khedive Ismail, which considered one of the most by a royal decree and got pro- important legislators in his- sought to establish a sound par- moted in their posts. Egypt also liamentary life capable of truly tory. His legislation had civil expressing the interests and as- rather than religious character. pirations of the different sects He was keen on issuing many and social strata of the Egyptian rules governing the relationship Egypt celebrates 150 years people. between the individual and the ruling power. His legislations The Evolution of the Parlia- were the first to firmly establish mentary Life in Egypt the idea of public freedoms and rights. He also emphasized the of Parliamentary Life Egypt introduced to human- idea that public office is the ity the oldest administrative servant and not the master of and legislative systems. Along Egypt marks the 150th anniversary of the inception of parliamentary life with a big people. The Pharaonic civiliza- the banks of the River Nile the tion left several monuments celebration beginning October 9 in the convention hall at Sharm El-Sheikh attended by oldest organized government was speakers of key world parliaments. The history of Egypt’s Western-style parliament, the testifying to this legislative and founded; building the greatest administrative development, first in the Arab, African and Middle East regions, dates back to 22 October 1866 when of civilizations. These Egyptian namely the text found in the the 75-MP Council of Consultative Deputies (Maglis Shura Al-Nuwab) was formed. The civilizations standing tall through tomb of princess “Aidot” in council, opened during the era of Khedive Ismail (1863-1879), held its first meeting the ages would never have been Saqqara which is considered on 25 November 1866. The Foreign Ministry launched an advertising campaign to established, varied and contin- the oldest tax legislation in celebrate 150 years of Egypt’s parliamentary life in Washington DC. The campaign ued, had they not been based history. On their temples and highlighted the current developments in Egypt to the American society including the on strong steadfast basics in the tombs, the Ancient Egyptians 150 years of Egypt’s parliamentary life and to discuss the many challenges that Egypt systems and arts of government often recorded the image of the and administration. faces with its partners, both the Arab nations or in the USA. The campaign sends both King presenting “Maaet”, the a tourist and a political message, which includes putting posters near the White House, Rule and Administration symbol of justice and law, to in Ancient Egypt the God, in a clear gesture to US Congress headquarters and the tourist buses in DC. The campaign would continue the significance of the values until next March, which coincides with the upcoming nuclear security summit hosted Before 5200 years, King Mina, King Horemheb 1319–1292 BC and concepts of justice and in DC in late March, on the hopes that it will have a positive impact of the campaign. the founder of the First Pharaonic sovereignty of low. 4 5 After Alexander the Great con- on all civil and criminal disputes, When Napoleon Bonaparte’s the opinion or position of the parliamentary council. Its estab- statute also included the dates quered Egypt in 330BC, the Greek as well as personal status. This expedition arrived to Egypt, Na- Ottoman Sultan. Mohammed Ali lishment marks the true beginning of the council’s conventions and rule of Egypt started.