At the joint parliamentary session today, President Mubarak's speech focused on economic growth and unemployment reduction, but not the issue of political reform. The opposition say the issue is being ignored by the government.
Mubarak said he is seeking to establish new commercial and industrial zones, as well as zones for agricultural industries. He said this will boost Egypt's competitiveness, increase exports and increase growth rates to 8 percent within five years.
Mubarak said parliament should put in place a definite framework for the use of state-owned land, in order to curb violations while facilitating investment and the growth of the private sector.
Observers do not expect parliament to pass any controversial legislation or develop the state's bureaucratic system in the run-up to the presidential election slated for September 2011, for fear of unpredictable social repercussions.
Mubarak snubbed calls for the dissolution of the newly-formed parliament, and calls for constitutional amendments to allow judicial supervision of the elections and to facilitate nominations for the presidency.
"Egypt rises above individuals and parties. Partisan, parliamentary and political work are only vehicles for serving the people and the nation and for bolstering democracy," he went on. "Democracy, in turn, is a culture entrenched through practice year after year."
Mubarak described the parliamentary election, with its negative and positive points, as an important step that has provided lessons and added to Egypt’s democratic experience.
