Egypt

Parliamentary Speaker: Only parliament has right to decide on members’ legitimacy

Parliament alone holds the right to decide on the legitimacy of its elected members, said Parliamentary Speaker Fathi Sorour in a interview with Egyptian Television aired on Monday.

Egypt's opposition says the recent parliamentary poll was marred by pervasive fraud and voter intimidation. Some judicial officials echoed those calls and ruled to nullify electoral results.

Sorour said he would not recognize a fraudulently elected candidate. He added that the Constitution states that a two-thirds parliamentary majority is required for parliament to invalidate the elected status of one of its members.

The weak opposition representation in the newly formed parliament is troublesome, Sorour said, since differing views positively influence the legislative process.

Fourteen members of the opposition and seventy independents were elected to the People's Assembly in 2010.

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