Egypt Set For Parliamentary Election

Egypt Set For Parliamentary Election

Egypt's first parliamentary election since the fall of President Hosni Mubarak will be held in September, and the country will lift emergency laws before the vote.

Lift emergency laws

"The legislative elections will be held in September," Mamdouh Shaheen, a member of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, said.

"We have said before that parliamentary or presidential polls will not be held while emergency law is still in force," he added.

The legislative election date means parties that were crushed under Mubarak's rule have some five months to prepare for the first free parliamentary polls in decades.

The council plans to relinquish power to a civilian government once a presidential election is held. But no date has yet been decided for a presidential vote, Shaheen said, without elaborating further.

The military council has ruled Egypt since Mubarak was toppled from power on February 11, following mass protests against his rule. It has  also approved a law that eases restrictions on the formation of political parties.

New parties

Shaheen said new parties would need the approval of 5,000 members from at least 10 of Egypt's 29 provinces.

Constitutional amendments

Earlier this month, Egyptians voted overwhelmingly in favour of constitutional amendments, paving the way for elections this year.

Aljazeera/Margaret/ Qasim