(AFP Photo)
In a speech that lasted longer than two and a half hours on 26 June, President Mohamed Morsi announced his “balance sheet” for his first year in power, including “everything we promised and everything we failed in so that you realise what we managed to achieve.”
“The delay in economic growth, the worsening living conditions, let me be honest and reveal to you that what brought us here is a number of factors that have to be understood, recognised, and dealt with immediately,” the president said, adding that after a year in office “there was no time to waste.”
“And I will start with myself,” he stated.
Days ahead of the first anniversary of his inauguration, the presidency launched a website displaying the achievements and challenges of Morsi’s first year.
The site dissected each of his trips abroad, showcasing his accomplishments in each visit, boasting that after his visit to Qatar five shipments of gas were “gifts to the people of Egypt.”
Although some remain controversial, and consensus upon them is unlikely, the Daily News Egypt has attempted to compile a list of Morsi’s achievements.
- On 5 July, Morsi ordered the formation of a fact-finding committee tasked with looking into crimes against protesters during the revolution and transitional period. On 5 January, the completed fact-finding report was handed to the prosecution but was never officially released to the public.
- On 12 August 2012, Morsi sacked top military officials, Field Marshal Mohamed Tantawi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and Minister of Defence alongside his Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sami Anan, then presidential advisers. Replacing Tantawi is serving Minister of Defence General Abdul Fatah Al-Sisi.
- On 22 November, Morsi announced a constitutional declaration which led to the dismissal of Prosecutor General Abdel Meguid Mahmoud, and appointing Tala’at Abdullah for the post.
- On 25 December, following the results of the December referendum, the President ratified the Egyptian constitution.
- Egypt witnessed a30 percent increase in wheat production compared to the previous year, with production totalling 9.5 billion tonnes.
- The presidency said that investments totalled EGP 170.4 billion in 2012 but climbed to EGP 181.9 billion in 2013.
- Official figures indicate that while the number of tourists in 2012 was 8.2 million, the number climbed to 9.2 million in 2013.
Mourad Ali, media adviser for the Freedom and Justice Party, addressed the achievements of the party: “concerning last year’s performance, we need to put it in the context of the time and situation and background available.“
He stated that shortfalls of the Muslim Brotherhood can be excused “because of the challenges they are facing, “stating that that they are not supported.
“Yesterday, when the president was talking about his achievements, he talked about wages and pension schemes that were not covered before. He mentioned also healthcare […] In a developing country like Egypt, where there’s a political instability that doesn’t allow you to reform your economy, these achievements are more than acceptable, however they are not enough,” Ali said.
“In order to realise justice, you need years, and you need support of all Egyptians, and you need the support of the world […] But it’s unrealistic to expect justice to be realised in 1 year,” he added.
Additional reporting Manar Mohsen
