Islamist Parties Dominate Egypt’s Upper House

Egypt’s Islamist parties have won the majority of seats the upper house of parliament, the Shura Council, the country’s election authorities said.According to final results announced on Saturday by Supreme Election Commission’s head Abdel Moez Ibrahim, the Freedom and Justice Party, the political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood, has secured 106 seats while the ultraconservative Al-Nour party came in second with 46 seats.Liberal Wafd party received only 19 mandates.
In line with Egyptian laws, two thirds of the 270-member Shura Council are elected in nationwide polls, while another 90 lawmakers are being appointed by the head of state.
The Shura Council has no legislative powers and enjoys only a consultative role, although its members will take part in drafting Egypt’s new constitution. The upper house is expected to hold its first session on February 28.
Egypt's lower house of parliament, the People’s Assembly, which was elected earlier this year, is also dominated by Islamist lawmakers from the Muslim Brotherhood and other religious groups.
The current elections are viewed as the first serious step in handing over power to democratically elected authorities following the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak during the 18-day uprising in February last year.