Egyptian newspapers reported the chairman of the High Electoral Committee said many parliamentary candidates received money from outside Egypt. Egyptian Minister of Petroleum Mohamed Ghorab said the state can save more than 3 billion EGP (U.S. $503.2 million) if energy prices increased by U.S. $4. Egyptian Minister of Finance Hazem al-Beblawi said Egypt needs to depend on local loans. Youm7: Chairman of the High Electoral Committee Abdil Moaez Ibrahim told Youm7 in an interview the elections will take place on their stated date without any postponement. The judges will supervise the elections when they're told along with the armed forces in cooperation with the civil security forces, will have responsibility to secure the voting process. He also said the Ministry of Interior will secure the electoral committees from outside and no officer is authorized to enter the electoral committees. Regarding potential violations during the elections, Ibrahim said the committee did not receive any complaints so far and in the case of a candidate using religious slogans, he will be eliminated from the parliamentary elections. Ibrahim said he received reports from security parties about some candidates and certain associations receiving money from outside Egypt to fund their campaign and spread chaos during this crucial moment. Ibrahim said these reports are currently being studied. Al-Ahram: Egyptian Minister of Petroleum Mohamed Ghorab said he presented a study suggesting to increase price of energy used in factories council of ministries. It will be implemented during the next few days after being discussed in the supreme council of energy. The study indicates an increase in price of energy used in factories, with U.S. $4 for each thermal unit, will save up more than 3 billion EGP (U.S. $503.2 million), according to Ghorab. Ghorab said the amount of money saved will be transferred to the Ministry of Health to support the treatment at the state's expense and to health insurance. Al-Masry Al-Youm: Egyptian Minister of Finance Hazem al-Beblawi said the state will receive funding package from the IMF, estimated at U.S. $3.2 billion, which was declined before the local debt was costly. Al-Beblawi said Egypt needs to vary its debts and reduce its dependence on the local loans. He also said the central bank will have treasury bills valued at 5 billion EGP (U.S. $836 million). The Egyptian Ministry of Finance estimated the public budget deficit at 134 billion EGP (U.S. $22.46 million), funded through the central bank's treasury bills valued at 120 billion EGP (U.S. $20.08 million), al-Beblawi said. He also said the rest of the deficit is being covered with grants and loans given by foreign and Arab states, pointing out the deficit will reach 8.6 percent of the local outcome during the financial year of 2011-2012. Al-Akhbar: Director of the Middle East department Ahmed Massoud said the IMF is ready to fund Egyptian economy programs, since Egypt is facing many economic obstacles. Massoud said that the reduction of the development rate will lead into a reduction in the job opportunities, warning against the continual withdrawal from the reserve. Massoud said the best guarantee for success of the economic reform is the internal programs, since the Egyptian economy is vulnerable on the short term but will be improved the next year. Al-Shorouq: Member of the legislative committee in the council of ministries Mohamed Atteia said al-Selmy's document wasn't presented to the committee yet, since it does not reach a total satisfactory among political powers and already caused fierce controversy. Atteia said he does not know any of the document's articles or the reason behind the controversy around it but he expects the government is finished with its final formula. Al-Gomhorreya: Executive manager of the information center in the council of ministries Amr Agamawi said electoral committees abroad are completely secured and the sorting will be held manually. He also said the differences between voting of Egyptians abroad and Egyptians in Egypt are only the voting mechanism and the place.
