Hisham Badawi, former head of Egypt's Central Auditing Organisation, was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives on Monday, securing 521 votes out of 570 during the opening session of the parliament's third legislative term. He defeated Mohamed Sami El-Imam, a representative of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party, who received 49 votes. Badawi pledged impartiality and commitment to the constitution in his new role.
In a pivotal opening session, Abla El-Hawary, the chamber's most senior member, announced the results, allowing Badawi to immediately assume his duties and preside over the election of two deputy speakers. Mohamed El-Wahsh received 495 votes and Assem El-Gazzar secured 516 as deputies, while other candidates including Sahar Atman (87 votes), Islam Fawzy (35 votes), and Awad Abu El-Naga (21 votes) trailed behind. Of 579 total votes cast for the deputy positions, 577 were valid and two were void.
In his inaugural address, Badawi stated: “I pray for guidance in fulfilling it to serve the interests of our great people and to listen to every voice in this hall, whether independent or partisan.” He added: “Our limits are the commitment to the constitution and the preservation of the council’s dignity,” emphasizing the parliament's focus on oversight and legislative roles to strengthen parliamentary work.
Badawi brings extensive legal experience to the role; he headed the Central Auditing Organisation from 2016 to 2024 and began his career in the prosecution service as Chief Prosecutor for State Security from 2000 to 2012. He later presided over the Cairo Court of Appeal between 2012 and 2015 and served as Assistant Minister of Justice for anti-corruption affairs. During his career, he oversaw high-profile investigations, including the 2009 Hezbollah cell case and the 2012 Nasr City cell case, and participated in national and international committees combating terrorism and money laundering.
The Speaker adjourned the session until Wednesday, when the House is set to elect the boards of its specialized committees, with members asked to register their preferences in advance.
