LEGISLATION WATCH- House approves law on parliamentary elections: The House of Representatives approved amendments to legislation regulating parliamentary elections, increasing the total number of parliamentary seats to 568, from 540. Election of MPs will be split evenly between individual candidates and a list system, once the president has appointed 5% of MPs (28 seats), Al Shorouk reported on Wednesday. Reuters also had the story.

The House also approved draft laws on the exercise of political rights and the National Election Authority, stipulating that the elections commission will be the sole authority overseeing the voting process. Parliamentary elections are due to be held at the end of the year, before the sitting parliament completes its sixth and final legislative session.

Other laws approved by parliament:

• Amendments to the Central Depository and Registration Act, which mandates the Financial Regulatory Authority with determining the ownership structure of companies licensed to provide clearing and depository services, among other things.
• Amendments to a bill that would set up a National Railways Authority that would also reclassify the national rail network as a public utility.
• Amendments to a bill regulating contracts between public sector entities, prohibiting the participation of representatives or individuals facing tax evasion charges.
• A bill that would ban unlicensed parking attendants, with offenders facing six-month jail terms or fines up to EGP 10k.