The first round of Egyptian parliamentary elections, held over the weekend in half the country's provinces, saw turnout of only 26.5 percent, an official said Wednesday.

That was a sharp drop from 62 percent registered in the first stage of the last poll, held in 2011.

Observers say the outcome of the election, which ends on December 2, is a foregone conclusion. The 596-member parliament is expected to firmly present President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's iron-fisted policies in the absence of any opposition.