Reactions to the government's economic policy varied greatly in parliament. While the pro-regime majority has welcomed the latest reforms as long overdue, leftist and Islamist MPs described them as a “disastrous exacerbation of Egypt's economic crisis”. The pro-government Support Egypt bloc was quick to announce its backing of the latest economic reforms which included floating the pound and cuts to fuel subsidies. Immediately after Prime Minister Sherif Ismail announced the moves in a press conference on 3 November, the bloc said they were a necessary step in restoring confidence in the Egyptian economy. Saad Al-Gammal, deputy head of Support Egypt and chairman of parliament's Arab Affairs Committee, told Al-Ahram Weekly that "the decisions are a long-awaited step and an integral part of a comprehensive economic reform programme". "They also send the message that Egypt's political leadership is strong enough to undertake the kind of radical economic reforms previous government's shied away from.” According to Al-Gammal "liberalising the exchange rate will save the Egyptian pound from speculation”. He also stressed that “steps will be taken to contain the negative impact of this step on the poor and those struggling on limited-incomes and we, as MPs, will closely follow up the implementation of these safety net measures”. Al-Gammal attacked "those calling for street protests against these decisions on Friday” saying “any calls for protests should be viewed as incitement to spread chaos”. In a statement issued on Sunday, the Support Egypt bloc said floating the pound and cutting fuel subsidies were “inevitable and herald the beginning of a comprehensive economic reform programme". According to the statement, the government's economic reform programme will improve public finances, counter ineffective bureaucracy and create a favourable investment climate. “The long-awaited reforms show the government's determination to fulfill its national responsibilities,” said the statement. On 3 November the Central Bank of Egypt devalued the Egyptian currency and announced that from 6 November banks would be able to set their own exchange rates based on market demand. Mohamed Al-Sewedi, head of the Support Egypt bloc and chairman of the General Federation of Egyptian Industries, told reporters on Sunday that “businessmen, industrialists and merchants should not use the latest measures to raise prices”. “Fuel prices have been increased by between two and five per cent. The business community should not use such a small increment as an excuse to hike up the cost of goods and services,” said Al-Seweidi. Al-Sewedi also recommended the salaries of public employees who receive less than LE2,000 per month be raised. He praised Ismail for explaining the new economic reforms to citizens in a press conference and warned that “in the absence of such transparency further reforms might not receive the requisite political backing”. Al-Sewedi said that civil society organisations should be mobilised to play a positive role in raising the awareness of citizens in all of Egypt's governorates of the importance and inevitability of economic reforms. The Support Egypt bloc was formed in May 2016. With 317 MPs, it is the largest coalition in parliament. Members include 216 independents and 101 MPs drawn from with seven political parties. In contrast to Support Egypt, the leftist 25-30 group and the ultraconservative Nour Party have voiced criticism of the government's economic policies. The Nour Party issued a statement on Sunday arguing "Egypt needs a national-oriented economic reform programme based on fighting corruption and tax evasion rather than borrowing money from the IMF. The 25-30 group of 12 MPs described the latest economic moves as "disastrous" and demanded the government be dismissed for announcing the latest batch of reforms without informing parliament in advance. "These decisions lack vision. They have been adopted without sufficient study and will place new burdens on the shoulders of the Egyptian people," says the group. The group's MPs were particularly incensed by rises in the price of gasoline which they insist will further feed inflation. They have called for an emergency session of parliament to discuss the 3 November decisions. The House of Representatives' secretariat-general, however, said on Monday that it had received no official requests to convene an emergency meeting. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Magdi Al-Agati said on Sunday that "it is impossible" for the government to backtrack on recent economic decisions. Speaking before parliament's Energy and Environment Committee, Al-Agati said steps will be taken in the next few days to minimise the impact of the reforms on the poor. “These decisions are final. No one should think prices will go down if we backtrack on them,” said Al-Agati. Apologising for not giving MPs advance notice of the reforms, Al-Agati said “the government chose not to inform parliament in advance in order to safeguard the public from traders hoarding goods, subsidised petrol in particular”. Al-Agati urged MPs to support the government. “The government is shouldering the responsibility of taking difficult economic decisions and MPs should support it. We are, in the end, all in the same boat,” said Al-Agati. He argued that “no government in the world can afford the costs incurred by 70 million Egyptians holding ration cards”. “It is the government's intention to completely overhaul the subsidy system so the benefits go to those most in need.” Responding to questions by MPs, Al-Agati said the policy statement delivered by the prime minister before parliament in March clearly explained that fuel, electricity and water subsidies would be reduced. “This statement won the approval of the majority of MPs. No one can now claim to be surprised by cuts which the prime minister had clearly signaled were on the way.” MPs insisted, however, they were “surprised and shocked” by last week's "harsh economic decisions". “These decisions have left us open to insults from our constituents which are being posted on social media,” said MP Abdel-Sallam Al-Khadrawi. “Citizens say it is shameful that MPs were the last to know about these decisions.” Al-Khadrawi urged the government not to raise the price of tickets of the Cairo underground metro saying that "to increase the price from one to two pounds will hit citizens hard". MPs also demanded the government inform them as soon as possible of the steps it will take to protect the poor. “You should consult with us rather than heap problems and crises on our shoulders,” said MP Sayed Hegazi. Leftist MP Diaaeddin Dawoud accused the government of doing everything “to satisfy the IMF and anger MPs”. “We want to help but our hands are tied when you choose not to inform us of your decisions in advance,” said Dawoud.
