Egypt to hold Parliamentary Election in Two Phases March 22-23 and April 26-27,2015

Egypt is to hold parliamentary elections in two phases starting on 22-23 March, its election commission says.

The polls are the final step of the transitional political roadmap outlined by the military in July 2013 after it overthrew President Mohammed Morsi.

Parties and candidates loyal to his successor, Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, are expected to dominate.

Egypt has been without its main chamber of parliament since 2012, when a court dissolved the House of Representatives.

Its powers were transferred to the consultative Shura Council pending fresh elections, but Mr Morsi was ousted before they could be held.

The Shura Council was then dissolved by the interim authorities before a new constitution approved last January did away with it altogether. Since then, the president has held all legislative powers.

On Thursday Jan 08,2015, the Higher Election Commission said the first phase of the polls for the House of Representatives would take place on  March  22-23,2015 and the second phase on April 26-27,2015

The announcement comes after President Sisi approved a constituencies law last month creating 567 parliamentary seats, 420 of which will be contested by individual candidates, 120 allocated according to party lists and 27 assigned by the president.