Egyptian Opposition Lawmakers Slam Sisi’s Fiscal Reforms

Lawmakers in Egypt on Sunday criticized President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s recent fiscal reforms.

The 25-30 Alliance, a bloc of a small number of opposition MPs, demanded in a statement that Sisi cancel what it called “errant economic decisions” affecting the lower and middle classes.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has revived the North African nation’s economic growth and tackled pressing problems in power and gas supply.

Sisi, who led the military’s overthrow of Egypt’s first democratically elected president, inherited an economy in tatters when he took over the presidency in 2014, requiring aggressive reforms that have largely stopped the rot while hurting most Egyptians through a currency devaluation and withdrawal of some price subsidies.

Egypt last week slashed subsidies on fuel, electricity, and transport as part of an economic overhaul urged by the International Monetary Fund in exchange for $12 billion in loans.

The economy grew at 5.4% last quarter, but inflation and unemployment remained in double digits.

The lawmakers’ statement was a rare public criticism of Sisi, who, critics say, has led the worst crackdown against political opponents in Egypt’s history.

The 25-30 Alliance has regularly opposed government policy.