Egypt’s Supreme Constitutional Court declares election illegal

CAIRO, Egypt – Egypt’s Supreme Constitutional Court has declared the Islamist-dominated Senate and the panel which drew up the country’s constitution invalid.

The Supreme Constitutional Court (SCC) on Sunday delivered its judgment on the legitimacy of the Shura Council, historically a powerless upper house which was given legislative powers last year after parliament was dissolved.

However, judicial sources told Reuters that the Shura Council would not be dissolved until a new parliament was in place.

A date has yet to be set for the elections. President Mohamed Morsi had said they could begin in October.

The court also ruled against the Islamist-dominated panel that drafted the constitution adopted by a popular referendum in December.

The case against the Shura Council is based on several challenges by lawyers of the law that governed the election of its members.

Both the upper and lower houses were elected under the same electoral law, which the SCC last year deemed invalid, prompting the dissolution of parliament.