Egyptian MP proposes compulsory citizen donations to fight COVID-19
An Egyptian parliamentarian is planning to submit a bill obliging citizens to make donations to a government fund in order to help in the fight against the coronavirus, with some saying mandatory donations are illegal and a form of taxation.
CAIRO — Bahaa Abu Shaqqa, legal adviser and head of the parliamentary Legislative and Constitutional Affairs Committee, announced April 4 his intention to present a draft law to parliament stipulating that citizens be required to make donations to the state-owned Tahya Misr Fund (Long Live Egypt) in a bid to support the government’s effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Abu Shaqqa said in a statement that the project’s goal is for citizens to share with the state the burden of the coronavirus pandemic, provided that the donations be commensurate with a citizen’s monthly income.
He explained that people who earn more than 5,000 Egyptian pounds ($317) would donate 5% of their income, and those earning more than 10,000 pounds ($635) would donate 10%, those making over 15,000 pounds ($952) would donate 15% and those with a salary of more than 20,000 pounds (about $1,270) would donate 20%.
The bill sparked great controversy and an angry outcry among Egyptians, especially since some private sectors had already slashed salaries by 50%, namely in the hotel and tourism sector.
