The Egyptian House of Representatives is set to convene in an extraordinary session today, September 30, 2026, at the request of over ten members. The session, called by House Speaker Counselor Hisham Badawi, aims to discuss a critical law that cannot be delayed. This development comes a day before the scheduled start of the second legislative session of the third legislative term, which is set to begin on October 1, 2026, as per Presidential Decree No. 398 of 2026 issued by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
The emergency session has been necessitated by the need to consider a law that requires urgent attention. According to the House's internal regulations, a request signed by more than ten members is sufficient to call for an extraordinary session. The law in question relates to amendments to the effective date of the new Criminal Procedure Law No. 174 of 2025, which was initially set to come into effect on October 1, 2026.
The new Criminal Procedure Law, approved by the House of Representatives on April 29, 2025, consists of 6 issuance articles and a companion law containing 546 articles. The law replaces the 1950 Criminal Procedure Law and introduces a comprehensive framework for criminal procedures, incorporating new guarantees and procedures related to rights and freedoms, as well as keeping pace with technological advancements in the field of criminal justice.
President El-Sisi had previously expressed reservations about eight articles of the law, which were subsequently discussed by the House of Representatives. The House revisited these contentious articles in an October 16, 2025 session, ultimately leading to the law's issuance on November 12, 2025. The amendments to be considered in today's extraordinary session aim to adjust the effective date of this significant legislation.
The General Secretariat of the House of Representatives has invited members of the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee to convene at 11:00 a.m. to review the report on the proposed law. This meeting precedes the general extraordinary session scheduled for 11:00 a.m., during which the report will be presented for discussion and voting.
The proposed amendments have significant implications for the country's judicial system and the rights of its citizens. The law's original effective date of October 1, 2026, may be subject to change as a result of today's session. Stakeholders and observers are keenly watching the developments, as the law's implementation will impact various aspects of Egypt's justice system.
The House of Representatives' decision to hold an extraordinary session underscores the importance of addressing pressing legislative matters. The session's outcome will be closely monitored, as it may influence the course of Egypt's legislative agenda and the lives of its citizens.
Key points
- The Egyptian House of Representatives will convene an extraordinary session to consider amendments to the effective date of the new Criminal Procedure Law No. 174 of 2025.
