Minister of Manpower and Immigration Ahmed Hassan El-Boraei on Saturday described the right of Egyptians living abroad to vote in national elections as “a fundamental right” guaranteed by UN conventions to which Egypt is a signatory.
At a press conference organised by a group of Egyptian expatriate businessmen, El-Boraei urged Egyptians living overseas to register at their respective Egyptian embassies and organise themselves in advance of upcoming parliamentary and presidential polls.
The minister also called on the Egyptian Federation of Expatriates to broaden its role so as to adequately represent all Egyptian nationals living abroad.
On Saturday, Egyptian expats staged demonstrations outside Egyptian embassies in several Western capitals - including London, Paris, New York and Ottawa - to demand the right to vote in upcoming national elections.
One group of Egyptian expats has launched an online campaign, dubbed “Right2Vote,” using social media such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
A number of prominent political personalities have also voiced their support for the cause, including activist Wael Ghoneim, political analyst Amr Hamzawy and would-be presidential contender Mohamed ElBaradei.
According to official estimates, some 6.7 million Egyptians currently live and work overseas.
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