Egyptian Minister of Legal Affairs Majdi Ajati turned refused requests to review the increase in gas and oil prices, AlMesryoon.com reported yesterday.
In a meeting with parliament’s Committee on Energy and the Environment, held to discuss the measures taken by the government during the last few days without prior consultation, Ajati said that “it is impossible” for the government to review the decisions it adopted.
“Even if the government cancelled its decision, prices will never decline,” he reiterated, claiming that the government is “tied” constitutionally and legally.
He also said that the constitution and the investment laws prevent the government from specifying the prices or identifying any threshold for them.
Ajati noted that there are other measures the government would take to face the “negative consequences” which “could result from the latest decisions.” He stressed that the government cannot make everything public. “There are things that must be kept secret,” he said.
Asking the parliament to help the government raise prices, Ajati said: “The ministerial council held a meeting with the governors yesterday in order to specify transport costs. You [MPs] have to help the government implement the economic measures.”
He also asked the MPs to accept the government’s apology for not consulting with parliament regarding the latest economic measures. He claimed that many democratic countries do the same.