What makes Egypt’s budget so controversial?
Some members of Egypt’s parliament say the recently approved budget was passed hastily — on purpose — and doesn’t meet constitutional requirements.
Budgets rarely please everyone, but opponents are challenging Egypt’s recently passed spending plan.
The Egyptian parliament approved the country’s 2016-17 general budget June 29 despite accusations that the legislation violates the constitution and contains figures that are not feasible.
The State Council already had approved the overall budget, set at 936 billion Egyptian pounds ($105 billion), with revenues estimated to reach 631 billion pounds. Egypt’s fiscal year runs from July through June.
Some members of parliament accused Speaker Ali Abdel Aal and the budget’s supporters of knowingly passing a bill that goes against several constitutional passages and sets unrealistic numbers for governmental expenditure rates in the health, education and scientific research sectors.
