Egypt’s president Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi said on Friday during his speech on June 30 uprising anniversary that Egyptians understood and endured the tough decisions taken towards economic reform.
The speech came amid concerns by citizens after the government announced on Thursday an increase in the prices of fuel, as part of the government’s economic reform programme, which includes devaluation of the currency, subsidy cuts, and implementation of the value-added tax (VAT) to correct the economic path.
Al-Sisi only dedicated the last part of his speech to assure the people that the price to democracy must be paid, political analyst Tarek Fahmy told Daily News Egypt, explaining that it would be “politically incorrect” to give more attention to the price hike than to June 30 uprising.
“It is obvious that the speech was drafted before the occasion and the increase of prices, and the last part was only added to assure the people,” Fahmy added.
Al-Sisi also reviewed three courses of which the state has followed since the uprising.
“The first course was rejecting the ruling of a religious fascist,” he said, adding that “now, after four years, we all see the amount of sacrifices made by the army and the police forces.”
Al-Sisi pointed out that the second course was fighting terrorism and standing with neighboring countries against the countries involved in funding and supporting terrorist groups.
Recently, Egypt joined Gulf states and took a decision to cut diplomatic ties with Qatar, accusing the latter of supporting and financing terrorist groups.
The president also said that the June 30 uprising was the spark of Egypt’s restoration to its regional role, as well as standing against terrorism both in Egypt and in neighboring countries, and helping neighboring countries restore sovereignty.
“The last and third course that the people have decided in the June 30 revolution was political and economic development,” he said. “On the political scale, we announced and implemented a political roadmap which proceeded constitutional state institutions, whereas the people’s voice was heard.”
Several projects were launched around Egypt, Al-Sisi said, adding, “We shall take pride in what we have achieved; the fair cannot mistake the developmental efforts taking place in Egypt, whether political or the improvement in the economic index.”
Mass protests erupted around Egypt on June 30 2013, calling for former president and Muslim Brotherhood (MB)-affiliated Mohammed Morsi.
On July 3, Al-Sisi addressed Egyptians for the first time with a speech, in which he announced that Morsi was no longer the president of Egypt, and that Adly Mansour would serve as an interim president.
Three weeks following Al-Sisi’s speech, he requested in another speech the support of Egyptians to “authorise” his fight against terrorism, saying “I ask honest Egyptians to come out on Friday to order me to fight potential terrorism. If they use violence and terror, then the military and police ought to be delegated to act. On Friday we meet.”
