Egypt parliament speaker Ali Abdel-Aal told MPs in a plenary session Tuesday afternoon that the House of Representatives will discuss a number of political laws in the coming period.

"We will discuss important laws that aim to regulate the performance, formation and election of the Senate and, the House of Representatives, as well as one on the election and performance of local councils, and one on the regulation of criminal procedures," Abdel-Aal said.

Abdel-Aal also revealed that parliament will discuss a number of interpellations.

"In the coming period, parliament will be keen to invoke its supervisory powers, including the use of interpellations," Abdel-Aal said, remarking that "more than one interpellation will be directed at cabinet ministers in the coming period."

Abdel-Aal's words come on the heels of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi's statement on 31 October, in which he urged parliament to invoke its supervisory powers, particularly the use of interpellations.

"I think parliament and its committees should play their roles to reveal facts, and if there are any accusations, or even insults, they should be discussed and facts announced to the public," El-Sisi said, adding that "and if there are any interpellations directed at cabinet ministers, officials should not take this in a sensitive way and know that this is a natural thing and a part of parliament's job."

Bahaa Abu Shoqa, chairman of parliament's legislative and constitutional affairs committee, said the committee is currently discussing when parliament should conclude.

"Parliament began its first session on 10 January 2016, and this means that its life should expire on 9 January, 2021," Abu Shoqa said, adding that "the constitution states that parliament's life is five years, but it also states that this should begin on the first week of October and expire at the end of June."

"So we have a problem, but anyway we will not need a committee be formed to debate this, because it will be solved regardless," Abu Shoqa said.







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