The Egyptian government comfortably won a confidence vote in the House of Representatives Wednesday after lawmakers voted in favor of its policy statement proposed last month, Youm7 reported.
A total of 433 MPs voted for the government, with 38 against and 5 abstained during a Wednesday plenary session attended by Prime Minister Sherif Ismail and most of his ministers. However, 119 out of the House of the Representatives’ 595 members were absent during the session.
“Our program focuses on economic development and targets 5.2 percent growth rate in the first year and not less than 6 percent in the following years,” Ismail said in a statement ahead of the vote.
The government intends to reform the subsidy policy to ensure “subsidies go to those who deserve them only.”
Four days prior to the vote, the parliament has held several plenary sessions to debate a report about the program prepared by 50 lawmakers.
According to the Egyptian constitution, the government’s policy statement must obtain a vote of confidence; otherwise, a party with the majority of two thirds of the parliament members will be tasked with forming a new government.
