CAIRO: Egypt's embattled regime announced on Monday a 15% raise for government employees in an attempt to shore up its base and defuse popular anger amid ongoing protests demanding President Hosni Mubarak's ouster.
The cabinet decision follows earlier promises to investigate election fraud and official corruption. The gestures so far have done little to persuade the tens of thousands occupying downtown's Tahrir Square to end their two-week long protest, leaving the two sides in an uneasy stalemate. The protesters have vowed to stay put until Mubarak steps down, while the regime wants him to stay in office until elections in September.
Newly appointed finance minister Samir Radwan said some $960 million will be allocated to cover the salary and pension increases, which will take effect in April for the 6 million people on public payrolls.
"We don't trust him and he's a liar — he's made many promises in the past," said Salih Abdel-Aziz, an engineer with a public sector company. "He could raise it 65% and we wouldn't believe him. As long as Mubarak is in charge then all of these are brittle decisions that can break at any moment."
The regime appears confident in its ability for the moment to ride out the unprecedented storm of unrest, and maintain its grip on power, at least until September elections, but it has made a number of moves in response to protesters' demands. Egypt's state-run news agency reported that Mubarak ordered the country's parliament and its highest appellate court to re-examine lower-court rulings disqualifying hundreds of ruling party lawmakers for campaign and ballot irregularities, that were ignored by electoral officials — possibly paving the way for new elections.
The ruling National Democratic Party won more than 83% of the 518 seats in the 2010 parliamentary elections, which were widely condemned as being rigged.
Judicial officials also promised to start the questioning on Tuesday of three former ministers and a senior ruling party official accused of corruption charges after they were dismissed by Mubarak last week. Meanwhile, the city enjoyed the most normal weekday routine than on any day since the Jan. 25 start of the unrest. ap
TOI
The cabinet decision follows earlier promises to investigate election fraud and official corruption. The gestures so far have done little to persuade the tens of thousands occupying downtown's Tahrir Square to end their two-week long protest, leaving the two sides in an uneasy stalemate. The protesters have vowed to stay put until Mubarak steps down, while the regime wants him to stay in office until elections in September.
Newly appointed finance minister Samir Radwan said some $960 million will be allocated to cover the salary and pension increases, which will take effect in April for the 6 million people on public payrolls.
"We don't trust him and he's a liar — he's made many promises in the past," said Salih Abdel-Aziz, an engineer with a public sector company. "He could raise it 65% and we wouldn't believe him. As long as Mubarak is in charge then all of these are brittle decisions that can break at any moment."
The regime appears confident in its ability for the moment to ride out the unprecedented storm of unrest, and maintain its grip on power, at least until September elections, but it has made a number of moves in response to protesters' demands. Egypt's state-run news agency reported that Mubarak ordered the country's parliament and its highest appellate court to re-examine lower-court rulings disqualifying hundreds of ruling party lawmakers for campaign and ballot irregularities, that were ignored by electoral officials — possibly paving the way for new elections.
The ruling National Democratic Party won more than 83% of the 518 seats in the 2010 parliamentary elections, which were widely condemned as being rigged.
Judicial officials also promised to start the questioning on Tuesday of three former ministers and a senior ruling party official accused of corruption charges after they were dismissed by Mubarak last week. Meanwhile, the city enjoyed the most normal weekday routine than on any day since the Jan. 25 start of the unrest. ap
TOI
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