Mubarak to give keynote speech in new parliamentary session
Egypt, Politics, 11/18/2000

Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak would give a keynote speech to the joint meeting of the People's Assembly and Shura Council on December 13 at the beginning of the new parliamentary session, following the 28-day elections seen in Egypt.

The first procedural session would be headed by the eldest member to elect the speaker and two deputies, one to represent white collar MPs and the other labour and farmer MPs.

The elected speaker, then, will complete measures to form 18 specialized committees, as well as the committee of ethics, the general one, and the parliamentary section.

The new parliamentarians at the PA would take the oath before performing their duties.

Observers expect the new People's Assembly to witness a remarkable parliamentary activity different from the level of debates seen in the previous assembly due to the varied formation of the majority NDP MPs and the win of a number of independents, who joined the NDP.

The new Assembly houses various political drives. The NDP secured an overwhelming majority by occupying388 seas out of the 444-seat parliament while independents secured 37 seats.

Al-Wafd led the opposition with seven seats two seats more than the previous assembly, Tagammu six seats one seat more, the Nasserite Party three seats - two seats more if Hamdeen Sabahi joins it and Al Ahrar (Liberals) party one seat - the same as the previous assembly.

The new Assembly rose to observer expectations with many changes in the MPs' faces. Some 310 new members were introduced to the new parliament while only 25% of the previous members lingered.

Thirty percent of the parliament are youths whose ages are a little over 30 while the number of physicians reached 25, university professors seven, businessmen more than 30, ex-police officers 10, chairpersons of public sector companies eight, civil servants more than 100, lawyers and legal councellors 20 and six journalists while the rest are workers and farmers.

Seven women succeeded in the three stages of parliamentary elections, five of whom are entering the parliament for the first time, while two remained from the previous assembly, Fayda Kamel and Amal Othman.

The number of Copts are expected to rise in the new assembly as President Mubarak will appoint 10 MPs. Three Copts won in elections. They are Minister of Economy Youssef Boutros Ghali and businessmen Mounir Fakhri Abdul Nour and Rami Lakah.

Previous Stories:
  Moussa, Robinson discuss human rights violations in Palestinian territories   (11/15/2000)
  Egypt's democracy, new stage of political action   (11/13/2000)
  Prime minister delineates future image of Egypt   (11/11/2000)

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