Sisi approves amendments to Egyptian military forces' retirement law

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has approved law no. 21 of 2020, which amends some provisions of the Armed Forces' retirement, insurance and pensions law, reported the country’s official gazette on Sunday.

The new amendments provide an annual increase of 15% to the gross salary and compensation of the army personnel for seven years.

According to the Constitution, the president has the right to issue or reject draft laws. In case the president rejects a draft law, he has to send it back to be reconsidered by the Parliament within 30 days of the Parliament’s notification.

If the president does not send it back within a month to the Parliament, or if at least two thirds of the Parliament members approve it again after it was sent back, the draft law will be issued as a law.

In July, 2018, President Sisi issued a law giving select military officials diplomatic immunity while travelling abroad along their term as called-up military figures.

The law was approved by the Parliament on July 16. Parliament Speaker Ali Abdel Aal said that military officials stand by people during revolutions, adding that people seek honoring the military personnel. He further explained that people reap the rewards of the revolution thanks to the support of the military officials.

Only eight parliamentarians rejected the law introduced by the Cabinet.

The approved law protects military officials named by a presidential decree from being interrogated or sued for “any action committed” during their tenure or because of their service since the former constitution was suspended in 2013, and until the Parliament elected in 2015 started its mission.

The seven-article law stipulates that the selected former officials will be called up again to serve the Armed Forces for their entire lives. In case the former official was found holding a non-military job, he will be called up after his job is done.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for taking the required procedures to give the select officials diplomatic immunity.

The select officials who had not served as ministers or taken up a higher post before they were called up will be treated as ministers and will subsequently have all ministerial benefits and rights, according to the law.

Moreover, the Egyptian president will determine the other grants given to these officials. In case they have already received grants based on another law, they can still receive the grants given to them based on the newly-approved law.