Wrap-Up – Egypt Court Quashes Electoral Law; Polls Delayed

Egypt's highest court has ruled that one of the laws regulating the upcoming parliamentary elections was unconstitutional, prompting an immediate delay of the March polls.



In a ruling Sunday, the Supreme Constitutional Court struck down Article 3 of the law which defines constituencies nationwide.



The constituency law was the only out of three legislations regulating the polls to be issued by President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, who holds the legislative power in the absence of a sitting parliament.



The court's rulings are binding to the state and cannot be appealed.



Egypt has been without parliament since the same court dissolved the setting legislature in 2012, citing unconstitutional articles in the electoral law.



In an immediate response to Sunday's verdict, the High Elections Commission (HEC) announced postponing the two-phase parliamentary polls, originally slated to kick off on March 22.



"The [constituency] law would be referred back to the concerned government committee for amendment before being presented to President al-Sisi for approval," HEC spokesman Omar Marwan said.



Al-Sisi, who is currently visiting Saudi Arabia, has ordered the government to make the necessary amendments within one month.



He also stressed that all necessary legal procedures should be taken to avoid further vote delays, according to a presidency statement.



Egyptians were expected to elect 540 parliament members over two phases, with the first taking place on March 22 and 23 and the second running from April 26 to 27.



According to the constitution, 27 members are directly appointed by the president.



The parliamentary elections are the final milestone of a transitional roadmap unveiled in mid-2013 following the military ouster of Mohamed Morsi – Egypt's first freely elected president.



The roadmap included a constitutional referendum and a presidential poll, both of which had already been conducted.



www.aa.com.tr/en - Kahire