Egyptian parliamentarian Khaled Hanafy

Egyptian parliamentarian Khaled Hanafy criticized the performance of Egyptian government during the recent period, saying that the reshuffle is not enough as the country needs a full change.

He stressed, during an interview with “Arabs Today”, his rejection to the involvement of Egypt’s executive authority in the formation of the National Council of Disability, calling for a clear response over the destiny of Egyptian politician Amr Al Shobki who gained the right to join the parliament at the expense of his electoral competitor Ahmed Mortada Mansour.

He added that the performance of the government, headed by Prime Minister Sherif Ismail, is negative, saying that he has not met with the National Council of Disability since he took the office. He added, “I refused the request submitted by the government to put the council under the leadership of Ismail.”

He added, “My position to refuse Ismail’s presidency over the council does not come for personal reasons, while such a step could violate the independency of the council.” According to the law submitted by the government, he said, the council should be formed from 17 disabled persons who are not members of the executive authority.

He called for involving the civil society activists in the council, stressing the importance of their role to support those people who represent an important sector of the Egyptian community.

Hanafy stressed that he is keen to hear the complaints of the Egyptian citizens daily, blaming the economic decisions taken by the Egyptian government. He added that the measures were necessary to improve the economic position, while they should be taken gradually. He called the government for drafting an inclusive plan to deal with the current increasing prices and inflation.

He warned of the repercussions of the current soaring prices of commodities, blaming the Ministry of Supply for not discussing the change of prices with the parliamentarians. He said that the government ignored the orders of President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi to protect the poorest categories of the Egyptian community and to extend the social protection to include more Egyptians during the coming period.

He added that the government needs a full change, saying that the recent ministerial reshuffle is not enough. He stressed that the government does not need a change in the ministers but a change in policies. He underlined the governmental failure to resolve the current problems witnessed in the Egyptian community.

He expressed his protest against the merging of the ministries, saying that it will create problems related conflicts of competences. He stressed that such a step needed more consideration. He called the government for paying more attention to the economic problems and unemployment.