Egypt to hold first local elections after 10-year hiatus

Egypt will hold its first local and municipal elections in 10 years in 1H2019, House of Representatives spokesperson Salah Hassaballah told reporters on Wednesday, according to Reuters. The polls will be held “after the local administrative draft law is passed by parliament” during the current legislative period, he added. Municipal elections were last held in 2008. Government-appointed officials have been running local affairs since a court dissolved municipal councils in 2011. The House of Representatives will vote on the Local Administration Act, which establishes elected local councils, before the summer recess, House Speaker Ali Abdel Aal said in January.