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| Africa North |
| Egypt court rejects election law |
| 2013-05-27 |
| EgyptÂ’s highest court ruled on Saturday that parts of a revised election law setting out terms for a parliamentary election were unconstitutional, casting fresh doubt over a poll that has already been delayed. The Islamist-dominated upper house of parliament had approved the law last month and sent it to the Supreme Constitutional Court to check the legality of the voting procedures for a new lower house. Opposition politicians had denounced the text of the revised election law approved by parliament and repeated threats to boycott the vote. The court ruled that four provisions of the bill were unconstitutional, a judicial source said. The bill will now be sent back to parliament for review. The ruling is the latest sign of friction between the judiciary, which Islamist lawmakers accuse of being loyal to deposed leader Hosni Mubarak and obstructing elections and legislation, and President Mohamed MursiÂ’s Muslim Brotherhood. Mursi, an Islamist elected last year, originally called elections for April but postponed them when the court annulled the decree setting the dates. Mursi has said elections could now begin in October, completing the democratic transition from MubarakÂ’s rule. A separate court ruling last year dissolved the Muslim Brotherhood-led lower chamber elected in 2011-12. |
| Posted by:Steve White |