Ahmed Fahmy of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party has been elected speaker of the Shura Council, the upper house of Parliament.
He won 175 valid votes out of 180, according to Ahmed Hassan al-Meligy, who chaired the council temporarily until the new speaker was elected.
In a speech after results were announced, Fahmy said he received a letter from Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi in which he asked Fahmy to collaborate with the People’s Assembly to meet the aspirations of the Egyptian people, and stressed that with the election of the Shura Council, the military council has completely handed over legislative power to Parliament.
Fahmy announced his candidacy for the post on Tuesday during the newly-elected council’s first session. He was not challenged by any other member.
The FJP won 58 percent of the council's seats in elections, which ended last week. The Salafi Nour Party won 25 percent.
Translated from Al-Masry Al-Youm
