Ask the President: Sisi listens to youth concerns, unveils solutions

CAIRO - 31 July 2019: Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has launched the Ask the President session, as part of the National Youth Conference held on July 30-31, to answer the questions mainly asked by the Egyptian youth between 16-30 years old around different topics.


Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has launched the Ask the President session as part of the National Youth Conference held on July 30-31 - Egypt Today/Hussein Talal
President Sisi started speaking about the local administration law that has not yet issued in a final form.

Since 2011, Egypt has not conducted elections for local councils, Sisi noted, affirming that the local councils in Egypt and worldwide have the biggest role in monitoring the performance of the government in every governorate.

We are very keen to hold the elections for local councils as soon as possible, based on the 2014 constitution, the president said, expressing hope that the youth are highly represented in the next elections, and that 18,000 young people participate in the vote.

Asked whether the youth will be given the chance to take part in the Shura Council (The Senate), Sisi said that the Senate is always formed from people with cumulative experience that has been gained through the consecutive years, adding that such quality is usually unavailable in the young age. However, the Parliament and Local Councils are available for the youth, Sisi said.


Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has launched the Ask the President session as part of the National Youth Conference held on July 30-31 - Egypt Today/Hussein Talal
Turning to speak about tensions in the region, the Egyptian leader said that some of the capabilities of Hezbollah in Lebanon have been used in confronting Israel.

"Let's be honest, we speak about tens of hundreds of missiles or even more. In that case ... what would be the response of the Israeli side? ... It would be so huge and so violent," the president said.

Sisi affirmed Egypt's stance toward seeking to find solutions for crises in the region that would rule out the military actions, while preserving the standards of Arab national security and the Gulf national security.


Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has launched the Ask the President session as part of the National Youth Conference held on July 30-31 - Egypt Today/Hussein Talal
Speaking about economy and changes happening to oil prices in the region, Sisi said that the Egyptian State has set a price for oil barrels, according to the current budget, at $68 per barrel. We have dealt with two banks in order to secure providing a certain amount of fuel at this fixed price, the president revealed.

Now we have almost no problems with the gas sector in terms of self-sufficiency, manufacturing or export, Sisi said, adding that he hopes this can be applied to the petroleum sector in the coming few years.

By the end of this year, the current stage of the economic reform program would be fully implemented, according to the plan Egypt has committed to before the IMF, Sisi said, adding that reform and progress however is a continuous process.


Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has launched the Ask the President session as part of the National Youth Conference held on July 30-31 - Egypt Today/Hussein Talal
In culture, Sisi said that he expects the the country will be in a better place in terms of culture and thought, within the next two or three years.


Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has launched the Ask the President session as part of the National Youth Conference held on July 30-31 - Egypt Today/Hussein Talal
Sisi spoke about the Egyptian football in Egypt, saying that the popular sport has faced many obstacles to the progress of this game in the country.

Egypt is showing proper performance in terms of individual sports, Sisi said, adding that Football in particular has witnessed since 2011 a state of instability including the incidents that took place inside the stadiums and how it could affect the presence of football fans.

Concerning the return of football fans to the stadiums, after they have been partially banned due to violent incidents that took place since 2011 inside and around the stadiums, Sisi said that their return has become even more possible now in light of the efforts shown in organizing the AFCON tournament in 2019 and the security system created.

Sisi said that the fans can return to enter to the stadiums when the Sports Ministry and the security authorities think it is the right time.

Egypt will no more hire foreign football trainers; we should give the chance for national trainers, Sisi said, explaining that the decision came after he consulted with Youth and Sports Minister Ashraf Sobhi.

Sisi also recommended working to develop the national women's football team.


Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has launched the Ask the President session as part of the National Youth Conference held on July 30-31 - Egypt Today/Hussein Talal