Yehia El-Gamal (Arabic: يحيى الجمل; born October 1937 – died 21 December 2018) was a prominent Egyptian legal scholar, constitutional expert, and politician. He held several significant academic and governmental positions throughout his career, playing a notable role in Egypt's political and legal landscape, particularly during the transitional period following the 2011 Egyptian Revolution.
Early Life and Education Yehia El-Gamal was born in October 1937. He pursued his higher education in law, graduating from the Faculty of Law at Cairo University. He furthered his studies in France, where he earned a Ph.D. in Public Law from the University of Paris.
Academic Career El-Gamal dedicated a significant portion of his life to academia. He served as a professor of Public Law at Cairo University and later became the Dean of the Faculty of Law at the same institution. His expertise in constitutional law was widely recognized, and he authored numerous books and articles on administrative law, constitutional law, and political systems, making substantial contributions to Egyptian legal thought. He was also a member of the Supreme Council for Culture and served as President of the Egyptian Society of Economics, Statistics and Legislation.
Political Career El-Gamal's political involvement spanned several decades. He held the position of Minister of Cabinet Affairs in the early 1990s. His most prominent political role came after the 2011 Egyptian Revolution, when he was appointed Deputy Prime Minister in the transitional government of Essam Sharaf. In this capacity, he played a crucial role in navigating the complex political changes, offering his constitutional expertise during a period of significant uncertainty and working on various constitutional and legal reforms. He was known for his moderate views and his efforts to promote democratic principles and constitutional rule.
Legacy Yehia El-Gamal is remembered as a highly respected legal mind and a voice of moderation and reason in Egyptian public life. His academic work profoundly influenced generations of law students and practitioners, while his political contributions helped shape critical junctures in Egypt's modern history. He remained an influential commentator on legal and political affairs until his death.
Death Yehia El-Gamal passed away on 21 December 2018, at the age of 81, following a prolonged illness.