El-Sayyid el-Badawi Shahatah has been elected president of Egypt’s historic Wafd Party following a tightly contested leadership race that underscored deep divisions within the party and the high stakes of its political future.
The judicial committee overseeing the 2026 Wafd Party elections announced on Thursday evening that El-Badawi secured the presidency after winning 1,302 votes, narrowly defeating his rival, Dr. Hany Serry El-Din, who received 1,294 votes. The razor-thin margin of just eight votes highlights the intensity of the competition and the polarized mood among party members.
According to the official results, a total of 2,614 ballots were cast. Of these, 2,596 votes were deemed valid, while 18 ballots were invalidated, the committee said in a statement released shortly after the vote count concluded.
The election comes at a critical moment for the Wafd Party, one of Egypt’s oldest political institutions, as it seeks to revitalize its leadership and redefine its role in an increasingly complex political landscape. Party insiders describe the vote as a test of competing visions for reform, organizational renewal, and political engagement in the coming years.
Supporters of El-Badawi view his return to the party’s top post as a move toward stability and experienced leadership, citing his previous tenure and familiarity with the party’s internal structure. Meanwhile, backers of El-Din had campaigned on a platform of institutional reform and generational change, appealing particularly to younger party members.
Despite the close result, the judicial committee emphasized that the election process was conducted under full legal supervision to ensure transparency and credibility.
Political observers say the new leadership now faces the challenge of unifying a divided base, rebuilding public trust, and strengthening the party’s influence amid mounting political and organizational pressures affecting Egypt’s partisan scene.
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