July 18, 2019

The speaker of the Egyptian parliament Ali Abdel Aal gave a speech on Tuesday in which he professed his loyalty to General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

“My loyalty is, after God, to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Love and appreciation to this brave and faithful man,” said Abdel Aal during the parliamentary session.

The speech came against the background of a conflict between the speaker of the parliament and the so-called “sovereign authorities” that have criticised the performance of Abdel Aal over the last few months.

The conflict arose between Abdel Aal and the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Omar Marwan after Abdel Aal supported a bill put forward by the housing committee whilst the Support Egypt Coalition, which is pro-government, opposed the bill.

Abdel Aal has been angry in the past about the government’s disrespect for the parliament.

The parliament was formed under the supervision of the General Intelligence to be a formal body that has neither power nor opinion in Egyptian politics and which is steered by General al-Sisi and his men.

Abdel Aal was appointed, not elected, to his post at the top of this parliament, and he knows that very well. However, he tries to reserve some status, or formal respect before the government, but this is much more than what the sovereign authorities will allow.