Egypt’s highest court on Thursday declared the country’s parliament invalid and cleared the way for a member of former President Hosni Mubarak’s regime to run in a presidential election runoff this weekend.
The Supreme Constitutional Court ruled that parliament must be dissolved, state TV reported. An Egyptian constitutional law expert told CNN that following the court’s decision, a political decision will be made about whether to dissolve parliament.
Parliament had been in session for just over four months.
The court found that all articles making up the law that regulated parliamentary elections are invalid, said Showee Elsayed, a constitutional lawyer.
Elsayed is also the attorney for former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafik, who will be allowed to run in this weekend’s runoff election due to a separate decision by the same court Thursday.
The court ruled that a law barring former regime members from running in the election is unconstitutional.
Shafik was the last prime minister under Mubarak. The runoff Saturday and Sunday pits him against Mohamed Morsi, head of the Muslim Brotherhood’s political arm.
Riot police and military personnel, some in armored vehicles, were outside the court ahead of the rulings. Military intelligence officers were also present.
After the ruling about Shafik was announced, a crowd of citizens shouted their disapproval. Military police moved to block the road in front of the court — a major Cairo artery.
Protesters outside the court chanted slogans against the former Mubarak regime and Shafik.
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One Response
“The court ruled that a law barring former regime members from running in the election is unconstitutional.”
and who made the constitution?