Brussels, 03/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 2 March, the European Union called for parliamentary elections to be held in Egypt “as soon as possible”. The previous day, the Egyptian judicial authorities ruled that the electoral law was anti-constitutional. This law was the basis for organising the election that was initially due to take place in stages between 21 March and 7 May.
“We take note of the development and we hope that the delayed elections will be held as soon as possible”, a spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini told EUROPE. The spokesperson underlined “the crucial importance of an elected parliament for fulfilling the roadmap and ensuring democratic governance, including the necessary institutional counterweight and brakes”.
After the decision of the judicial authorities, Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ordered the law to be re-written within a month. He also called for all the “legal measures to be taken to avoid a delay” in the elections. The administrative court is now due to rule on this delay. (Camille-Cerise Gessant)