Egyptian Parliament approves law on establishment of National Security Council

CAIRO – 6 July 2020: The Egyptian Parliament on Monday gave a final approval to a draft law introduced by the Cabinet on the country’s National Security Council, assigning new tasks to the Armed Forces in the event of “imminent danger.”

According to the draft law, in light of Article no. 200 of the Constitution, the council and the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces will meet with the president to take urgent measures to face any “imminent danger” against the civil state, the Constitution, the national security, territorial integrity, the republican system and national unity.

According to this article, the president invited the council to convene in the aforementioned cases and according to the request of half the number of members. Those who shall be invited include the vice president, the president of the Senate and former presidents who the incumbent president picks.

Discussions between the National Security Council and the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces shall he held in secrecy, according to the article. Their decisions shall be passed by majority vote. In the event of a tie, the side which the president votes in favor wins the vote.

The Parliament also approved a draft law banning officers of the Armed Forces, including retired and currently-serving officers, from being nominated for presidential, local or legislative elections except after the approval of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces.

The amendments also include appointing a military advisor for every governorate, and a sufficient number of assistants appointed by the minister of defense.

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.