Ikhwanweb :: The Muslim Brotherhood Official English Website

Opposition MPs declared in a press conference Monday their rejection of a draft legislation by the People’s Assembly raising Petroleum prices.

The press conference, organized by the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) Parliamentary bloc, included other opposition and independent members who discussed the draft which marks an increase in the prices of Petroleum products after the draft was discussed inside the Parliament.

The draft proposes an increase of nearly 40% on the prices of all Petroleum products including Gas, Solar, and others. Moreover, new taxes will be imposed on cars and different means of transportation, raising ticket prices.

Hussein Ibrahim, spokesman of the MB Parliamentary bloc, stated that the press conference is a reaction against the way such draft was released, clarifying that such draft has been organized secretly by the Planning Committee in the People’s Assembly, a thing that was totally unaccepted by the members, according to Hussein Ibrahim.

The last session in the People’s Assembly witnessed intensive disputes among independent and opposition members and NDP members who agreed on the draft. The head of the Parliament declared that discussions concerning the same subject would be proceeded in other two sessions.

For his part, Mohsen Radi member of the MB Parliamentary bloc believed that such draft is a crime committed against the poor Egyptian citizens who struggle daily for their living.

He added in his statement to Ikhwanweb that it is illogical that the Egyptian President proposes a pay rise and then suddenly the parliament proposes a draft law that will add to people‘s suffering through rasing prices of oil. The President’s promise is no longer valid, he said.

Radi stated that the members in the People’s Assembly thought about solving the problem through imposing taxes on the rich and the factory owners as they would not be much affected compared to the poor.

Radi emphasized that political corruption in Egypt has a negative influence on the economic situation. However, opposition representatives who call for real reform are a minority and can hardly affect the final decisions of the PA.