Egypt's Supreme Constitutional Court (SCC) will rule on four challenges to the constitutionality of the three laws regulating the coming parliamentary elections on Sunday, it announced on Wednesday.
The upcoming parliamentary elections are scheduled to begin in March, with the first phase taking place on March 22 and 23 and the second phase running from April 26 to 27.
Yet, the elections' start date is threatened with postponement pending the SCC's verdict on the constitutionality of the laws governing them.
An advisory report issued by the court's commissioners deemed unconstitutional certain articles in the constituency law, drafted to regulate electoral districts. The commissioners also found an article within the political participation law unconstitutional.
The commissioners' reports are not binding for the court.
Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi issued the constituency law in December 2014.
Former Interim President Adli Mansour issued last June the political participation law and the parliamentary elections law, shortly before ceding power. Mansour now serves as head of the SCC.
The three legislations have been met with criticism by several political parties that have called for their amendment before the elections are held.
Egypt’s coming parliament will be made up of 567 seats; 420 members will be individually elected, 120 will join the parliament through electoral lists, and 27 members will be appointed by the president, as per the laws.
The Supreme Elections Commission (SEC), which is overseeing the election race, announced on Monday it has initially accepted the candidacy of 6899 individuals running for the coming parliamentary elections.
Several parties have already announced their intentions not to participate in the elections, including al-Dostour, Strong Egypt and the Popular Current parties.
