1929 Egyptian parliamentary election

Background

After the 1926 elections the alliance between the Wafd and Liberal Constitutionalists initially held. Soon, however, a political crisis emerged after a draft treaty between the British Foreign Secretary Austen Chamberlain and Egyptian Prime Minister Sarwat Pasha. The treaty was rejected by the Wafd majority parliament, leading to Sarwat's resignation and the formation of a coalition cabinet between the Wafd, led by Mostafa el-Nahas after Saad Zaghloul's death, and the Liberal Constitutionalists. Nahas' first government was short lived after it was dismissed by King Fua'd following a British ultimatum. Specifically, the British objected to an amendment in the Egyptian assembly depriving the police the right to break up public meetings and assemblies.

Following Nahas' government, Mohammed Mahmud of the Liberal Constitutional party became prime minister, forming a coalition between Liberals and Ittihadists. He later dissolved parliament and postponed elections, leading to Wafdist backlash. Mahmud entered into negotiations with the new foreign secretary Arthur Henderson, successfully signed an agreement over the Nile river in 1929. However, the British did not want to sign a final treaty without a government elected by the Egyptian people, thus forcing Mahmud to resign and call for new elections. Mahmud tried to push for elections with restricted suffrage, where only Egyptians who were literate and paid a certain amount in taxes could vote, while the Wafd pushed for full male suffrage. Ultimately, the British allowed for full male suffrage out of fear of antagonizing the Wafd and endangering the acceptance of any future treaty by the Egyptian people. Elections were held under an interim government by Adly Yakan, leading to a Wafd victory.

Results

Aftermath

Nahas would later be unable to secure a treaty with Britain, leading to the collapse of his second government and the emergence of what the historian Marius Deeb calls the "Palace-Sidqi Dictatorship" under the premiership of Ismail Sidky.

Notes

References

Sources

References

1. {{harvnb. Khatib. 1954
2. {{harvnb. Quraishi. 1967
3. {{harvnb. Marsot. 1977
4. Deeb (1979) Chapter Four: ''"The Palace-Sidqi Dictatorship: A Culmination of the Offensive against the Wafd 1930-1935"''