Shura Council elections held under judicial supervision

The ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) received a sweeping victory in the Shura Consultative Council mid-term elections in eight governorates, the Interior Ministry's official results for the first stage showed.

NDP members secured 11 out of 30 seats offered for the first time in the first stage of elections in the governorates of Giza, Qalyubiya, Menoufiya, Behaira, Fayoum, Beni Suef, Qena and North Sinai.

There will be run-off elections, on Tuesday, May 22, in several constituencies in the governorates of Menoufiya, Qalyubiya, North Sinai, Qena, and Fayoum.

No women out of the five candidates managed to win a seat at the Shura Council.

"Voters Wednesday morning headed for the ballot boxes in 21 constituencies in the eight governorates to choose 30 representatives at the Shura Council. The process went smoothly without incident," well-informed sources said.

Some 233 candidates, representing various political parties are running in the three stages of the mid-term elections, held under the direct supervision of judicial bodies.

The last stage will take place in the governorates of Cairo, Alexandria, Kafr El-Sheikh, Menya, Assiut, Sohag, Aswan and the New Valley.

Two-thirds of the 210-member consultative body are elected while the other third is appointed by the president.

No violence or riots were reported during the election process as it proceeded smoothly in the nine governorates.