The conference brought together approximately 1,200 members of the party’s General Assembly, including party leaders and representatives from various governorates, to elect the party’s president and board of directors.
When asked by news agencies and journalists about the reason for his attendance and his decision to accept the invitation, Dr. Hossam Badrawi explained:
First: The decision of the party’s president to relinquish his position, despite being a well-regarded and popular leader, demonstrates his commitment to the principle of the peaceful transfer of power. I commend him for this position, and my respect for him has grown because he has applied this principle to himself and his own party. Such an example deserves respect and recognition. My attendance is an expression of that appreciation.
Second: The Egyptian Social Democratic Party is a respected political party, and its representatives in both chambers of Parliament have demonstrated a strong and active presence.
Third: I respect the party’s institutional approach to governance, combining centralized and decentralized management.
Zohran emphasized that handing over the reins to a new leadership today is not merely an organizational procedure, but a genuine victory for the values of social democracy upon which the party was founded. It also offers a practical example to Egypt’s political landscape of how power can be transferred with dignity and responsibility.
He further stressed that the party will continue to serve as a voice representing the middle class and the most vulnerable segments of society, affirming that the engine of genuine development begins with investment in education and healthcare and the achievement of social justice.
Zohran extended special thanks to Dr. Hossam Badrawi.
In his address to the conference, he delivered a firm message to young party members and provincial secretaries, pointing out that the party’s strength does not derive from central leadership positions or internal rivalries, but from its actual presence in streets and villages, its direct engagement with citizens’ concerns, and its commitment to providing services to the communities it represents.
He explained that the party’s journey, spanning more than fifteen years, had witnessed numerous differences in perspectives. However, these differences had always been resolved within institutional frameworks through the Higher Committee, the Political Bureau, and the General Conference. He called on everyone to rally behind the new leadership and extend their full support to ensure that the party continues to be a strong and influential political force.
The conference concluded in an atmosphere of democratic spirit and enthusiasm. The speeches, level of participation, and overall proceedings reflected a deep awareness of the demands of the coming phase. The outcomes of the conference reaffirmed the Egyptian Social Democratic Party’s continued role as one of the main pillars of peaceful civic and political engagement in Egypt, drawing on its mature political experience and the tangible support of national figures and forces who participated in this exceptional event.
Dr. Hossam Badrawi was subsequently invited to take commemorative photographs with party members, in a scene reflecting their deep appreciation for his distinguished political and academic career, as well as the genuine and longstanding friendship between Mr. Farid Zahran, the party’s leadership, and Dr. Hossam Badrawi, in an atmosphere filled with warmth, affection, and mutual respect.
