Cairo -

In rare statements by one of the most prominent supporters and defenders of the Egyptian authority, the journalist and parliamentarian, Mustafa Bakri, called for stopping what are known as "major national projects" in Egypt, for a period of time, and until the economic crisis in the country is overcome.

Since assuming the presidency in 2014, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has launched a number of major construction projects such as a new branch of the Suez Canal, a new capital east of Cairo, a network of roads and bridges, in addition to eliminating slums inside Cairo, projects that the authority and its media considered a source of pride and evidence of achievement. .

But these projects have always been the subject of continuous debate between supporters and opponents of the authority, as opponents see them as far from the real priorities of the Egyptians and the country's economic renaissance, demanding spending on education, health, industry and agriculture.

Government supporters - including Bakri - maintained that these projects are among the red lines that distinguish "patriots" from "traitors", stressing that they represent the main lever for the country's economy and infrastructure.

https://t.co/r0PA0e1FwM

— Mustafa Bakri (@BakryMP) May 9, 2022

Bakri's statements sparked controversy and ridicule on social networking sites in Egypt, and were criticized even by the Egyptian Minister of Transport, Kamel al-Wazir, who said that she put poison in honey.

Bakri’s demand came during the plenary session of the Egyptian Parliament, yesterday, Monday, while discussing the report of the Plan and Budget Committee regarding opening an additional appropriation in the 2021-2022 budget, worth 6 billion pounds (pounds = 18.48 dollars).

This comes at a time when talk about government spending priorities has escalated in light of the economic crisis the country is witnessing as a result of the wave of inflation and the negative economic effects of the Russian war in Ukraine.

Activists and politicians called for putting spending priorities and major projects on the table of the political dialogue that Sisi called for at the end of last Ramadan.

In his speech, in which he called for political dialogue, Sisi announced a package of economic measures to confront the global economic crisis, among which were measures previously demanded by opponents amid accusations from loyalists, especially the army's disengagement from economic work, as Sisi announced the offer of shares of army-owned companies in stock market.

“People are boiling and economic conditions are difficult.”


Mustafa Bakri calls for stopping Sisi’s projects, and Kamel al-Wazir responds to him pic.twitter.com/v4cpyrQwo9

- Monitor Network (@RassdNewsN) May 10, 2022

jurisprudence of priorities

In his speech before the House of Representatives, Bakri said that the jurisprudence of priorities must be observed and people’s needs should be given priority, especially since there is a state of societal tension and the middle class has been crushed and the poor suffer more, according to his description.

Bakri stressed the importance of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's decision to continue implementing a decent life plan, but he also stressed that other projects should be temporarily halted despite their importance, taking into account the social dimension.

"Is it better now for people to eat, or to complete national projects," Bakri denounced.

Bakri indicated that the repercussions of the Russian-Ukrainian war caused the price of a ton of wheat to rise from $230 to $490, and a barrel of oil from $60 to $115;

This greatly affected the budget in Egypt, stressing the continuation of observing the social dimension in order to preserve the integrity of society.

Attack and sarcasm

The statements of the Egyptian media did not find a positive resonance with the supporters or opponents of the Egyptian regime, and the two sides launched a scathing attack on Bakri on social media.

A number of social media pioneers ridiculed the situation in Egypt, which led to the demand of Bakri - known as the loyalist of the regime - to stop these projects.

Others questioned the reasons that prompted Bakri to cross the red lines, as some of them considered him directed by security authorities to try to absorb the rising popular anger due to the economic crisis.

On the other hand, some regime supporters launched a severe attack on Bakri, and some accused him of "finishing Egypt", describing him as "malignant" and his demands as "dementia". Some also compared his demand to stop national projects with his statements two months ago, in which he said that these projects restore Building the state and employing about 5 million citizens.

The people's condition became difficult for Mustafa Bakri, and there is no power or strength except by God

- Reality Fast (@Fastoukiii) May 10, 2022

Even parliamentarian and journalist writer Mustafa Bakri talks about an "inverted priority schedule", and calls on the government to stop "national projects" for a period of time, and pay attention to people's needs after they were crushed under the yoke of high prices.

— Ammar Ali Hassan (@ammaralihassan) May 9, 2022

👈 Mustafa Bakri March 23 on Echo of the country: National projects are rebuilding the state and 5 million citizens


are employed 👈 Mustafa Bakri May 9 in Parliament: National projects must be stopped until we overcome the financial crisis


✅ And the question is for Bakri...

— amr hamdon 🇪🇬🇪🇬🇪🇬 (@amrhamdon) May 9, 2022

#Guys, he is Brother Mostafa Bakri. He was not invited to the Egyptian family's breakfast in Ramadan, in the presence of #Sisi, the origin of Behratl. These days are many, and the brothers are cheering for their attack on #Sisi and Kamel Al-Waziri

- Randa, the lover of her mother (@BnyHmdy) May 10, 2022

Report by the Attorney General against Mustafa Bakri Al-Ikhwani. The client wants to stop work on national projects


. Show your truth, Bakri pic.twitter.com/LxpbH78fhN

— Rayan (@a_rayan2022) May 9, 2022

Mustafa Bakri Tala’a says that we must stop national projects in the next period because of the economic conditions, and the Minister of Transport with Amr Adib, some of the workers, reviews the projects they are continuing with, and says we have no crises.. That’s why I believe who among you is 😤 pic.twitter.com/fTeLb2bg2w

— Hany saad (@hanysaad76) May 9, 2022

Poison in honey

For his part, the Egyptian Minister of Transport, Kamel Al-Wazir, responded to Mustafa Bakri's demands - without referring to him directly - describing these demands as "unthoughtful words", stressing that the major projects implemented by Egypt during the recent period are important in maximizing import and export, and access to global trading platforms.

The minister asked - during a telephone interview with the "Al-Hekaya" program on the Saudi-owned satellite channel "MBC Egypt" on Monday evening - how the citizen goes to the hospital or university except after making a road, stressing that infrastructure projects are arteries and the key to development and progress. And prosperity, noting that "Germany did not rise after the world war except by roads and bridges," according to his description.

The Minister of Transport pointed out that such demands put poison in honey, and demanded that citizens not allow them to be deceived through sent and unthoughtful words, stressing that the infrastructure is the key to development in Egypt.