During the opening procedural sitting for parliament's fourth session on Tuesday Speaker Ali Abdel-Aal urged MPs to keep a close watch on the government and closely examine all draft laws submitted to the House. The road to the political and economic reform of Egypt remained long, he said, and parliament's discussion of the necessary reforms does not place it above criticism. “The fact that we are elected does not mean we are infallible. We must welcome all those who direct their criticisms with sincerity, and who argue for the correcting of positions they truly believe mistaken,” said Abdel-Aal He told MPs that discussing the forthcoming legislative agenda which is expected to include laws regulating the performance of local councils and amending criminal procedures would be a full-time job. “All MPs, majority and minority, have an obligation to give their views, placing the national interests above all other considerations,” said Abdel-Aal. The government-drafted law regulating the performance and election of local councils has already been discussed by parliament's Local Administration Committee. Committee head Ahmed Al-Sigini says that if the 156-article law is passed long-delayed municipal elections will be able to be held by the end of this year or early next. Abdel-Aal noted that the government of Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli secured the confidence of parliament in July and now has a duty to complete its programme of economic reforms without further burdening those on limited incomes. He also drew attention to a number of foreign agreements, particularly with Russia, which will pass before parliament, saying “we have a duty to carefully study these agreements to see how they can serve Egypt and boost foreign investments.” Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Omar Marawan told MPs during the procedural sitting that the government was determined to coordinate with parliament to promote the interests of Egypt and its citizens. The prime minister met with a number of senior MPs, led by the first deputy speaker, Al-Sayed Al-Sherif, on 25 September. The meeting, which Marawan attended, focused on the government's legislative agenda for the new parliamentary season. Abdel-Moneim Al-Oleimi, an independent MP who attended the meeting, told Al-Ahram Weekly Madbouli had suggested MPs and government officials meet on a regular basis to discuss issues such as education and health that impact on the daily life of ordinary members of the public. Sayed Abdel-Aal, head of the Tagammu Party, told reporters that MPs were keen to hear what the government's strategy was in fighting monopolies in the local market and how it intended to control retail prices. Prime Minister Madbouli told MPs that the government will need the help of parliament in addressing two urgent issues: the control of runaway population growth and stemming public debt. On 27 September Finance Minister Mohamed Maait announced that the government aims to cut public debt from 98 to 92 per cent of GDP in 2018/19 and to 70 per cent of GDP by 2022. Abdel-Aal said the prime minister had suggested “campaigns aimed at raising awareness of the serious problem of population growth were not enough and we need punitive measures in the area of birth control.” He also revealed that the prime minister had asked for parliament's help in controlling the debts of local media organisations, particularly those incurred by the Radio and Television Union. Abdel-Hadi Al-Qasabi, the newly-elected head of parliament's majority Support Egypt coalition and chairman of the Social Solidarity Committee, said the bloc was keen to “open its heart to the different points of view voiced by opposition and independent MPs”. “Our responsibility towards Egypt during this critical stage obliges us all to turn disagreements into a positive force that pushes the country forward. But there are limits the opposition should not exceed — it must respect the constitution and law and support the pillars of the state.” Al-Qasabi said Support Egypt has asked the government to submit quarterly reports on the implementation of its policies. Ahmed Al-Sigini, secretary-general of Support Egypt and head of the Local Administration Committee, said Support Egypt will play a leading role in improving the performance of MPs in the coming session. Al-Ahram political analyst Amr Hashem Rabie told Al-Ahram Weekly that a new local councils law was urgently needed not only so the long-delayed municipal elections could be held but also to tackle corruption and promote socio-economic development. Amendments to the House of Representatives Law were also needed to promote the role of political parties, said Rabie, and “the law should be amended to implement a list system which allows for a majority of seats to be occupied by party-based candidates.” Rabie found it worrying that parliament has not discussed a single “interpellation” — urgent questions to cabinet ministers which they must answer — since 2016. Between 2005 and 2010 MPs directed 107 interpellations at ministers, 25 concerning poverty and inflation, 36 on poor health service provision, the spread of carcinogenic pesticides and substandard foods, and others on education, unemployment and the export of gas to Israel. “Has Egypt become such a problem-free country that MPs have found no need to direct a single interpellation in over three years,” he asked. Meanwhile, the election of parliament's 25 committees was held on Wednesday. While some were expected to retain their positions — Al-Qasabi as head of the Social Solidarity Committee, Al-Sigini, as head of the Local Administration Committee, and Bahaaeddin Abu Shokka as head of the Legislative and Constitutional Affairs Committee, Saad Al-Gammal and Gamal Shiha were expected to lose as heads of the Arab affairs and health committees. Businessman and industrialist Mohamed Farag Amer, the outgoing head of the Youth and Sports Committee, opted instead to stand as head of the Industry Committee while two female MPs — Sherine Farrag and Dina Abdel-Aziz — contested the leading positions on the environment and youth and sports committees.
