Egypt's parliament is gearing up for a busy legislative season, with several key draft laws on the agenda. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Hani Hanna announced that the government has referred a large number of draft laws to the House of Representatives for discussion and voting. These laws are considered crucial, and the House is expected to prioritize them in coordination with the government. The legislative season is set to begin on October 1.
President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi has issued a presidential decree inviting both the House of Representatives and the Senate to reconvene on Thursday to inaugurate their second legislative session. The House will meet at 11 am, while the Senate will convene at 2 pm on the same day. The Senate is preparing to conduct its business from its new premises in the New Capital, after completing its relocation from its old building in downtown Cairo.
The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs is committed to releasing press releases and briefing journalists to clarify the thinking behind any government-drafted law. This move aims to ensure that the media and the public are fully informed about upcoming legislation and the performance of ministers. The ministry will provide regular updates to clamp down on rumors and misinformation.
Two draft laws on personal status and local administration are at the top of the government's legislative agenda. The personal status law covers a range of family matters, including marriage, divorce, guardianship, and custody. The draft local administration law aims to regulate the election of local councils, strengthen their financial independence, and improve services in different communities.
The government is also preparing a draft law on amnesties for building violations, which will be referred to the House soon. The law aims to address existing problems and facilitate procedures for people asking for an amnesty from the government and settling building code violations. Additionally, amendments to the Information Technology Law will be presented to the House next month to regulate social media use and address issues such as defamation and online fraud.
The amendments to the Information Technology Law aim to keep pace with rapid technological developments and regulate children's use of electronic platforms. The House's Communications Committee has held hearings with representatives from electronic platforms, including TikTok and Facebook, as well as with international companies operating in the field of information technology. The committee has discussed the allocation of SIM cards to children based on age groups and in accordance with the Telecommunications Regulation Code.
Amending the 2015 Electricity Law will also be on the legislative agenda, with a focus on toughening penalties related to electricity theft. The proposed amendments aim to protect state resources and address violations, without affecting ordinary citizens or their bills. A government-drafted law to regulate the real estate market is also being prepared and will be presented to parliament soon, aiming to establish a legal framework that balances stimulating investment and protecting the rights of all parties in the market.
Key points
- The Egyptian government has prepared several key draft laws to be discussed in the new legislative season, including the Personal Status Law and a bill to oversee the real estate sector.
- The legislative agenda also includes amendments to the Information Technology Law and the 2015 Electricity Law, as well as a draft law on amnesties for building violations.
- The government's draft laws aim to address various issues, including family matters, local administration, social media regulation, electricity theft, and real estate market regulation.
