After two procedural sessions last week, Egypt's parliament will get down to business on Monday. The upcoming schedule of debate includes discussion of three legislative changes. One is an amendment to the Penal Code, which would increase stiffen penalties imposed on those convicted of assaulting property owned by the state and others. Three MPs – Abdel-Moneim El-Oleimi, Khaled Hanafi, and Saeed Tiama – have also submitted amendments along the same lines. El-Oleimi said state property involves land owned by the state, by the Ministry of Awqaf (religious endowments), and agricultural land owned either by ordinary citizens or state authorities. A report prepared by parliament's constitutional and legislative affairs committee said the amendments aim to stem the tide of the growing crime of assaults of state land, which causes a lot of social unrest. Parliament will also discuss amendments to law number 70 of 1964 on public notary and documentation fees. A report by the same committee says the amendments aim to lower documentation and notary fees for Egyptian companies, in order to help them do business in foreign countries. The third law seeks to amend some articles of law number 161 of 2012 on establishing the Zuweil City for Science and Technology. The amendment would affiliate Zuweil city with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. Zuweil city, established in 2012, is named after Egyptian scientist Ahmed Zuweil, who won the Nobel prize for chemistry in 1999. The city was established as an independent entity. Its board of directors include a representative of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. On Wednesday, Finance Minister Mohamed Maait will come to parliament to answer MPs' questions on economic conditions, and state employees' salaries. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly is expected to address parliament on Monday on Egypt's economic conditions and the measures taken by the government to mitigate the negative impacts of economic reforms on the poor. MPs criticised Madbouly's government in a procedural opening session on 1 October, accusing the government of not doing enough to help poorer citizens and improve public services. MPs directed most of their attacks at Supply Minister Ali Moselhi due to his decision to strip 2 million citizens of their subsidy ration cards.
