Egypt’s Supreme Constitutional Court (SCC) ruled that the Senate and a panel that drafted the constitution were invalid, throwing the country into fresh political uncertainty.

Egypt’s Supreme Constitutional Court (SCC) ruled that the Senate and a panel that drafted the constitution were invalid, throwing the country into fresh political uncertainty.

The SCC said the law governing the elections of the Shura Council was unconstitutional, as were the rules for the selection of the members of a committee that drafted the constitution.

Presiding Judge Maher al-Beheiry said that the Shura Council should remain in place until the election of a new parliament.

It was not immediately clear whether the Shura Council would continue to legislate during this time.
Some judicial sources said the Shura Council, a historically powerless body which was thrust into a legislative role when parliament was dissolved, now has no authority to make laws.

But others say the body's powers will be restricted to issuing legislation governing the next elections.

As for the constitution, it will remain in place because it was adopted by a popular referendum, judicial sources said.

The constitution was at the heart of a bitter conflict between President Mohmad Mursi’s supporters and his opponents who slammed the text for failing to represent all Egyptians and stifling freedoms.

The conflict had spilled out onto the streets causing the worst political polarization since the popular uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak in 2011.