Court to determine legitimacy of election laws on March 1

The Supreme Constitutional Court announced on Wednesday that it would issue a verdict on four challenges to Egypt’s election laws on March 1.

If the court deems any of the laws unconstitutional, it would delay the upcoming parliamentary elections, currently scheduled for March.

The court accepted appeals against the Electoral Law, the Constituency Division Law and the Political Rights Law.

Those who challenged the electoral laws in court argued that some of their stipulations give preferential treatment to women, in violation of the constitutional article stating that men and women should be treated equally.

They also questioned the constitutionality of the division of seats in parliament, currently two-thirds for individuals and one-third for party lists, which some argue does not provide equal opportunities.

The Constituency Division Law was challenged on the grounds that it doesn’t ensure equal representation for voters in different constituencies.

The stipulation in the Political Rights Law that allows candidates to spend up to LE500,000 on their campaigns was also challenged on grounds that it privileges wealthy candidates.

Refaat al-Komsan, the adviser to the Prime Minister for elections, attended the session on Wednesday and defended the constitutionality of the laws.

The SCC had disbanded the Muslim Brotherhood dominated parliament in 2012, after it deemed the election laws unconstitutional.