Women’s chances of winning in the current elections or being treated equally in the political arena, in terms of their representation or public discussion of their issues, will remain limited as long as the political landscape is besieged, even with mechanisms like quotas aimed at increasing their participation. On the other hand, the political scene will remain controlled by men as long as it lacks such mechanisms even though the election process is more democratic and vital as was the case in the 2011 – 2012 elections.  

Women’s chances of winning in the current elections or being treated equally in the political arena, in terms of their representation or public discussion of their issues, will remain limited as long as the political landscape is besieged, even with mechanisms like quotas aimed at increasing their participation. On the other hand, the political scene will remain controlled by men as long as it lacks such mechanisms even though the election process is more democratic and vital as was the case in the 2011 – 2012 elections.  

Historically, women’s participation in the Egyptian parliamentsWomen’s candidacy and vigour of election process

In addition to the election system, there are many problems affecting women’s participation. Although winning women candidates were very rare, their participation in the elections was the main way to publicize female politicians and strengthen their position within parties and society.

For example, the well-known dissident Jamila Ismail failed permanently in 2001, 2011 and 2012 elections against candidates representing the ruling party or those enjoying huge financial support. Yet, these battles have greatly boosted her political and popular presence.

In the current elections, blocks have stuck to the minimum required quotas of women. Moreover, most lists included Christian women to meet the quota of women and quota of Christians by the same candidates. Women in individual lists were way lower than the previous elections.

Where are the democratic women?

The Egypt’s Wake-up included 56 women, a number of whom are women rights activists, politicians, or writers addressing such issues as democracy, social justice and citizenship. Women like Karima Kamal, Nivin Obaid , Hiba Derbala, Ivon Mas’ad, Aisha Abu Smada, Shahnda Makaled, Manal Tibi, Fatima Awameri, Fatima Khfaji and Wafaa Sabri whether individually or representing political parties. After their withdrawal, the percentage of similar candidates decreased significantly. For example, the three candidates of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party do not include any of its female leaders. Even its only former MP in the 2011 parliament, Sanaa Sa’eed, from Asyut Governorate did not run for individual seats. Instead, Hilal Abdulhamid, her husband and a leader in the party, did.

The Egypt’s Wake-up withdrawal as well as the failure of the Democratic Current (the six parties which supported Hamdin Sabbahi against al-Sisi in the latest presidential elections) to form its own list or alliance to run for the individual seats will be discussed in a separate article. That meant the current elections have no democratic flags. Building on the 2011/2012 elections, the lists would politicize the election process which would, in one way or another, impact even those running for individual seats.

In the current elections, voters consider that the democratic candidates running for individual seats do not represent political blocs. For example, young candidate Wafaa Ashri, who participated in the 2011 – 2012 elections in the January 25 Revolution lists and who is running again as an independent for the individual seats in the first district in Aswan Governorate, is portrayed in the press as a representative of the Nuba or the Nubian women. She is not labeled as the candidate of the democratic or revolutionary “current” or any other ones despite her history in the National Association for Change, the Revolution Is Continuing Alliance and other democratic and women’s movements.

A few democratic candidates may enter the parliament through individual seats. However, for their female democratic counterparts, that is next to impossible. Anyway, there will always be perseverant women trying hard on their own, whether in an open or closed political atmosphere.