The Shura Council on Thursday approved laws governing the exercise of political rights and House of Representatives elections and is expected to submit them to the Supreme Constitutional Court for review.
The upper house of Parliament passed the two laws during Wednesday evening's session but Speaker Ahmed Fahmy delayed their final approval until Thursday.
The council also redistricted electoral constituencies, devoting 91 constituencies for individual candidates and 48 for candidates who run on party lists, and creating a total of 546 seats in the House of Representatives.
It rejected all other redistricting proposals, saying this format ensures fair representation in Parliament.
It has also rejected the creation of a special constituency for Egyptians living abroad.
Freedom and Justice Party MP Essam al-Erian noted that the previous list-based system had led to the dissolution of Parliament on the grounds that its election was unconstitutional.
“We suggested the combined list and individual system to the military council at the time to give a chance to smaller parties,” he said, adding that this is the ideal system, and Parliament can change it later if it deems it necessary.
Muslim Brotherhood MP Sobhi Saleh said the distribution of the constituencies was not affected by any political consideration.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
