Sisi's call for austerity falls flat with Egyptians
While Egyptian Defense Minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has recently called on Egyptians to embrace austerity, some question whether state officials will also have to cut down on their opulent spending.
“Our economic circumstances, in all sincerity and with all understanding, are very, very difficult.” “I wonder, did anyone say that I will walk for a little bit to help my country?” “The country will not make progress by using words. It will make progress by working, and through perseverance, impartiality and altruism. Possibly one or two generations will [have to suffer] so that the remaining generations live.” These are parts of the speech by Egyptian Defense Minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on March 6 at the opening of the second conference of young doctors and recent graduates.
Some have considered Sisi's speech to be an invitation to austerity for the Egyptian people, prompting activists on social media and forums to spread a video showing Sisi’s Land Rover, which is estimated at 2.5 million Egyptian pounds ($360,000). The video is titled “Sisi begins a campaign of austerity and walks.”
Some political and media analysts considered the speech Sisi's economic program for the presidential race.
Wasteful state spending
