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Court ruling jeopardises Egypt parliamentary elections | Court ruling jeopardises Egypt parliamentary elections |
(35 minutes later) | |
Egypt's Supreme Court has ruled part of an election law unconstitutional, possibly delaying parliamentary polls which begin this month. | Egypt's Supreme Court has ruled part of an election law unconstitutional, possibly delaying parliamentary polls which begin this month. |
The ruling referred to sections of the law on division of electoral districts. | The ruling referred to sections of the law on division of electoral districts. |
President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi ordered the law to be redrafted within a month. | |
Egypt's main parliament chamber was dissolved in 2012. The elections are the final step of a transitional roadmap following the overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi. | |
They are scheduled to be held several stages, starting 22-23 March. | They are scheduled to be held several stages, starting 22-23 March. |
Former army chief Gen Sisi was elected president in May 2014. | |
Mr Sisi approved a constituencies law in December creating 567 parliamentary seats, 420 of which would be contested by individual candidates, 120 allocated according to party lists and 27 assigned by the president. | Mr Sisi approved a constituencies law in December creating 567 parliamentary seats, 420 of which would be contested by individual candidates, 120 allocated according to party lists and 27 assigned by the president. |
His supporters are expected to dominate the new chamber. | His supporters are expected to dominate the new chamber. |
But lawyers who appealed against the law told AFP news agency that in its current form it did not adequately represent the electorate. | But lawyers who appealed against the law told AFP news agency that in its current form it did not adequately represent the electorate. |
A statement from the Higher Electoral Commission is expected but an official told the private CBC channel that the vote would be delayed until it had reviewed the law. | A statement from the Higher Electoral Commission is expected but an official told the private CBC channel that the vote would be delayed until it had reviewed the law. |
Later a statement by Mr Sisi's office said that he had ordered the redrafting of the law, demanding that "legal measures be undertaken to avoid delaying" the elections. | |
Crackdown on Islamists | Crackdown on Islamists |
The first two steps of the roadmap were the adoption of a new constitution in January 2014 and Mr Sisi's election. | The first two steps of the roadmap were the adoption of a new constitution in January 2014 and Mr Sisi's election. |
The previous House of Representatives was dominated by supporters of Mr Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood, but since his overthrow the military has launched a crackdown on the Islamist movement that has left more than 1,500 people dead and more than 16,000 in detention. | The previous House of Representatives was dominated by supporters of Mr Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood, but since his overthrow the military has launched a crackdown on the Islamist movement that has left more than 1,500 people dead and more than 16,000 in detention. |
Its powers were transferred to the consultative Shura Council pending fresh elections, but Mr Morsi was ousted before they could be held. | Its powers were transferred to the consultative Shura Council pending fresh elections, but Mr Morsi was ousted before they could be held. |
The Shura Council was then dissolved by the interim authorities before the new constitution did away with it altogether. Since then, the president has held all legislative powers. | The Shura Council was then dissolved by the interim authorities before the new constitution did away with it altogether. Since then, the president has held all legislative powers. |