Egypt's budget awaits amendments demanded by Sisi: Source

The final ratification for Egypt's state budget for the fiscal year due to start on Wednesday is pending amendments demanded by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Magdy Youssef, head of the public relations department at the ministry of planning, told Ahram Online on Tuesday.

Youssef did not however reveal details on the proposed amendments.

Presidential spokesman Alaa Youssef for his part refused to unveil the expected date of ratification, saying that people will be informed once it is ratified.

He further refused to describe it as a "delay", saying that the last day ahead of the new fiscal year [Tuesday] "is not over yet".

According to Law 53 of 1973, the state budget is issued at the beginning of the fiscal year, which starts in July and finishes at the end of June the following year.

According to the constitution, Egypt's parliament should ratify the state budget.

Egypt however currently does not have an elected parliament, and the president holds all legislative authority.

On 18 June, the cabinet approved the budget proposal, almost three months after the constitutional deadline.

The draft was never published, but the ministry of finance had issued a pre-budget statement a few weeks earlier.