Nine members of the Egyptian Parliament have submitted a parliamentary question to the government, requesting the disclosure of poverty rates and data from the income-expenditure survey. The MPs, representing various political parties, argue that this information is essential to assess the government's achievements. They claim that despite previous promises, the government has not yet published the data.
The MPs who submitted the question include Irin Said, head of the parliamentary bloc of the Reform and Development Party, and Mohamed Fawad, head of the parliamentary bloc of the Justice Party. Others include Amira Adel, Sahar Atman, and Ahmed Farag, among others. They argue that the absence of this data undermines the credibility of the government's achievements and reduces transparency.
The MPs had previously submitted parliamentary questions during the previous session, but the government had promised to provide the data within a week, which never materialized. Irin Said stated that the lack of data makes it challenging to evaluate the government's performance and that the government should present the numbers to demonstrate the credibility of its achievements.
Amira Adel explained that she and other MPs had used various parliamentary tools, including questions and requests for information, to demand the disclosure of poverty rates. She emphasized the importance of coordination among opposition MPs on issues with common ground. Adel noted that the current move is not the beginning of a parliamentary coalition but rather a coordination of views.
Adel mentioned that she had personally submitted a question about the income-expenditure survey in November of the previous year and had followed up with additional requests. She stressed the significance of the data in determining poverty indicators and informing economic and social policies.
Ahmed Farag stated that at the beginning of the second session, he had requested the prime minister's presence to discuss and hold him accountable for the government's previous statements and promises. He emphasized the parliament's role in holding the government accountable for its announced numbers and pledges.
The MPs' demand for data comes ahead of the government's presentation on its achievements. The data from the income-expenditure survey is crucial for evaluating the government's policies and programs. The 2026 Economic and Social Development Plan used data from the 2021 income-expenditure survey, highlighting the importance of updating this information.
Key points
- MPs demand disclosure of poverty rates and income-expenditure survey data to assess government achievements.
- Government had previously promised to provide data but failed to do so.
- Data is essential for evaluating economic and social policies and programs.
