Sisi makes the ‘Egyptian human being’ his priority
President Abdel Fattah El Sisi’s inauguration speech on Saturday was made in the House of Representatives, but his remarks were addressed squarely at the Egyptian public, acknowledging the hardship his economic reforms entail and the financial burden imposed by his huge infrastructure projects.
As Egyptians braced themselves for another rise in the cost of living, including a 47 per cent increase in water tariffs from this month and an increase in 92-octane petrol from five Egyptian pounds (Dh1) per litre to between 6.5 and 7.5 pounds, Mr El Sisi pledged to prioritise Egypt’s strained public health and education systems during his second four-year term.
“Together we bore the burden that left us with a heavy legacy of economic, social and political challenges and their negative effects on all walks of life,” he said.
“Now that success of the plan’s first phase has been achieved, I assure you that we will put the building of the Egyptian human being at the top of the state’s priorities.”
His promise to fund a “strong and cohesive education and health system” will feature in parliament’s deliberations, which began yesterday, on the 2018-2019 budget and a fiveyear development plan.
With the higher utility rates and petrol to go up at the end of Ramadan, the government is working to reinforce the social security net with a 15bnpound package in the new fiscal year which begins in July.
“Our report recommends that the government adopt a new package of social protection that can help poor and limited-income citizens cope with the expected harsh economic measures such as phasing out fuel and power subsidies,” said Salah Eissa, the head of parliament’s budget and planning committee, hours after Mr El Sisi was sworn in.
Mr El Sisi’s presidential inauguration was possibly the last to be held at the nearly century-old parliament building in Cairo.
By June next year, the legislature, presidency and government are to be moved to the rapidly rising New Administrative Capital spread across 4,650 hectares 45 kilometres south-east of Cairo.
With a reported cost of $45bn (Dh165.2bn), it is but one of the enormous state projects launched during the president’s first term.
“Our ambitious plan was to launch a series of mega national projects aimed at maximising the country’s assets,” Mr El Sisi said in his speech.
“This intensive labour was done in parallel with a comprehensive plan of economic reform to address the significant decline in the general economy.”
Few Cairenes said they watched the president’s 15-minute address, but Hisham Yousri, a butcher in the Bab A Louk market, said he saw highlights on the evening news.
“The president knows that things have been hard for most of the people,” said Mr Yousri, 37. “And most of the people know that El Sisi has saved us from chaos and trust him to rebuild the country.”
Along with budget talk, there is speculation of a cabinet reshuffle to accompany the change in spending priorities.
“MPs have strong reservations over the performance of several cabinet ministers,” parliament spokesman Salah Hassaballah said last week.
Some MPs have said Prime Minister Sherif Ismail’s government was favouring wealthier Egyptians in the implementation of IMF-mandated policies.
“If President El Sisi decides on a cabinet reshuffle and canvasses our views on who should go and who should stay, we will be more than happy to provide them,” Mr Hassaballah said.
Mr El Sisi told the Egyptian people his second term in office would focus on education and health