Egyptian court rules on parliament legality

Egypt

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Egypt's Supreme Constitutional Court examines the legitimacy of the upper house of parliament in a move that could leave the country without a legislature. 

The court already forced the lower house to dissolve under a June ruling, according to which an electoral law used to elect both chambers was unjust as it gave too much power to parties at the expense of independent candidates.

The upper house of parliament assumed legislative powers in late December 2012 under the country's new constitution approved in a national referendum the same month. Should it be dissolved, Egypt will have a legislative vacuum until the parliamentary elections take place in about two months. 

At the hearing, Egypt's highest court will also examine the legitimacy of the Islamist-dominated constitutional assembly, which created the new charter.