On Friday, 24 January 2014, the Constitutional Court ruled, unanimously (by 8 votes to 0), that postponement of the general elections is legally permissible, and by 7 votes to 1, ruled that it is the joint mandate and responsibility of the caretaker Prime Minister and the Chairman of the Election Commission to discuss a new election date and the issuance of a new Royal Decree to postpone the elections.

Background

• On Wednesday, 22 January 2014, the Election Commission filed a petition to the Constitutional Court, asking the Court to rule on whether the caretaker Government or the Election Commission has the authority and responsibility to postpone the elections, despite a Royal Degree having been issued for the general elections to be held on 2 February 2014. The Court’s six judges voted unanimously to accept the Commission’s petition.

• Previously, the Election Commission had urged the caretaker Government to postpone the elections to 4 May 2014, arguing that the political environment was too tense and that candidates in some southern provinces were unable to register for the elections because of a blockade by protesters, which means that parliament wouldn’t achieve the quorum needed, even if the elections went ahead.