The BBC reported on 4 February 2010 that the Independent High Electoral Commission had delayed the start of the election campaign from Sunday 7 February 2010 until Friday 12 February 2010 to allow time for an emergency parliamentary debate, to be held on Sunday 7 February 2010, following the court ruling of 3 February 2010 to permit banned candidates from participating in the election and to delay examination of their democratic credentials until after the election, which the government has called “illegal and unconstitutional”.