Egypt’s parliament began discussing on Monday President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi’s decree (174/2021) extending the country’s state of emergency for three more months starting 1 pm 25 April 2021. The decree said the extension is necessary due to the dangerous security and health conditions which the country is passing through.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, in a statement before parliament on Monday, said the Middle East is living in a state of troubles and threats. “And we also see that some are still planning to destabilise Egypt and target its people and its achievements, but we are not afraid of any threats facing our country because we know that we live in a country preserved by God and its soldiers,” said Madbouly.

Madobuly confirmed that Egypt’s armed forces and policemen are always ready to confront threats facing the country’s national security.

“So, I am sure that all in this country are well aware of the efforts being exerted by the state to preserve security and achieve progress in all fields regardless of all the crises and difficult conditions currently facing us and the world due to the coronavirus pandemic and in terms of low growth rates, rampant unemployment, and instability, which is gripping many countries around us and leaving its negative impact on the region,” said Madbouly.

In the words of Madbouly, “Thank God that Egypt has strongly and steadfastly been able to pass through all of the above hard conditions.”

“It is not strange that the main reason for Egypt’s success in standing up to all the factors of deterioration which hit most world economies is the solidity of its people and its trust in God, political leadership, the government and national authorities.”

“We should all be proud that Egypt is one of few world countries which was able to achieve a positive economic growth in the last year, as confirmed by all international financial institutions, which forecast that more positive growth rate will be achieved in the coming fiscal year,” said Madbouly.

Madbouly concluded that due to the adverse international and regional conditions which Egypt is passing through at the moment, the cabinet decided to extend the state of emergency by three months, starting 1 pm on 25 April 2021, as prescribed by the presidential decree (174/2021), issued in this respect.

“And I vow that exceptional measures sanctioned by the emergency law will be used in a way that will be keen to strike a balance between the duty of protecting public freedoms and the necessity of preserving national security,” said Madbouly, indicating that the extension of the state of emergency also goes in line with Article 154 of the constitution.

“I pray to God that this will contribute to the efforts of the armed and police forces in fighting terrorism and completing the implementation of development plans across Egypt.”

The state of emergency, which has been in effect since 2017, has always been extended on the grounds of fighting terrorism, implementing development programs in a stable climate, and containing the coronavirus crisis.

According to the bylaws of the Egyptian House of Representatives, two-thirds of parliamentary deputies must approve imposing or extending a state of emergency within seven days of the decree’s date of issuance. Parliament Speaker Hanafy El-Gebaly said Madbouly’s statement will be discussed by the House’s general committee — including the speaker, its two deputies, chairmen of committees, and representatives of political forces.

“A report will be made to be discussed by the House in a plenary session,” said Gebaly.

The committee, meeting at the 25th of January’s hall on Monday afternoon, is expected to approve the extension and recommend that MPs also vote in favor of it in tomorrow’s plenary session.

According to the articles of the decree, “the armed forces and police shall take all the necessary measures to combat the dangers of terrorism and its financing sources in order to maintain security throughout the country, protect public and private property, and save the lives of citizens.”

The state of emergency was declared for the first time in May 2017 by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi when two churches were bombed in the cities of Tanta and Alexandria on Palm Sunday, killing 47 people.

According to Article 154 of the 2014 constitution, the state of emergency is to be announced after consulting with the cabinet. Then, the decision should be reviewed by parliament in no more than seven days after its approval by the cabinet. Two thirds of MPs should approve the extension in order for it to be effective.

https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/410033.aspx