While parliament was waiting for el-Sisi's new draft law, the president again proclaimed that the elections would be held soon, "in early 2020".[3] But other officials were quick to clarify that this was not seriously to be expected.[17] In early 2020 a number of parliamentarians and jurists stated that if el-Sisi's suggestion of organizing local elections concurrently with elections to the House of Representatives and Senate were implemented, then the local polls might be held at the beginning of 2021.[18] As of 2020[update], although the national elections proceeded as expected in late 2020, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, no further progress has been made public on organizing local elections.[citation needed]