Parliamentary sources expected that PM Mostafa Madbouly will present his government policy statement—government’s political activities, plans, and intentions—by the next week.
The source added that Madbouly is expected to confirm, before the parliament, his government’s commitment to continue the economic reform programme initiated by the former government, headed by the former prime minister, Sherif Ismail. Madbouly’s government is also expected to focus on the issues, which the President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has requested to intensify the work on, including education and health.
Madbouly’s government was sworn in before Al-Sisi last week, bringing a number of new faces, including Mohamed Ahmed Zaky, as minister of defence and military production; Mohamed Moeit, as minister of finance; Younes El-Masry, as minister of civil aviation, Mahmoud Sharawy, as minister of local development; Mahmoud Tawfik, as minister of interior; Halah Zayed, as minister of health; Yasmin Salah el Din, as minister of environment; Ezzeddin Abo Setit, as minister of agriculture and land reclamation; Amr Talaat, as minister of communications and information technology; Ashraf Sobhi, as minister of youth and sports; and Amr Adel Nassar, as minister of trade and industry.
Madbouly will continue to lead the Ministry of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Development besides heading the cabinet.
Article 146 of the constitution stipulates that the president of the republic assigns a prime minister to form the government and present his programme to the Egyptian House of Representatives. If his government does not obtain the confidence of the majority of the members of the House of Representatives within no more than 30 days, the president appoints a prime minister based on the nomination of the party or the coalition that holds a plurality of seats in the House of Representatives. If his government fails to win the confidence of the majority of the members of the House of Representatives within 30 days, the house is deemed dissolved, and the president of the republic calls for the elections of a new House of Representatives within 60 days from the date the dissolution is announced.
In all cases, the sum of the periods set forth in this Article shall not exceed 60 days.
In the event that the House of Representatives is dissolved, the prime minister presents the government and its programme to the new House of Representatives at its first session. In the event that the government is chosen from the party or the coalition that holds a plurality of seats at the House of Representatives, the president of the Republic may, in consultation with the prime minister, choose the ministers of justice, interior, and defence.
Egypt has reached a tentative agreement with the International Monetary Fund on a loan of $12bn over three years. In return, it must reform its economic policies. The government has adopted a series of decisions, including raising energy and fuel prices, the latest of which was issued on Saturday when the prices of gasoline and diesel were increased by 16-66%.
According to sources, Egypt’s Support Coalition, the majority bloc in the parliament, agreed with the government’s recent decision on raising fuel prices with the aim to decline the budget deficit in the next fiscal year by 8.4%.
“Any move by a political party or coalition within the parliament to question the government about raising fuel prices will not succeed, as long as Egypt’s Support Coalition has already voiced its support to the decision,” sources said.
The Minister of Petroleum Tarek El-Mulla, said the government’s recent decision to raise fuel prices saved about EGP 35bn in the energy subsidy bill.
