The lesson learned from the 1977 bread riots should be “not to trick the people,” writes Al Ahram columnist Salah Montasser in reference to state media hinting that prosperity is right around the corner ahead of ultimately announcing a price increase on almost all basic commodities. Former President Hosni Mubarak never talked about prosperity, and instead “spoon-fed” the people multiple price increases during his rule, he says.

In contrast, the Al Masry Al Youm columnist with the pseudonym Newton calls for a more realistic policy discussion. He publishes a letter from former Planning Minister Othman Mohamed Othman criticizing the House of Representatives for slowing down the economic reform process. Othman says the House should either accept the reform package as is or focus its energy on an alternative route to balancing the budget if it decides to reduce the VAT rate. Newton himself then criticizes the House for pursuing Supply Minister Khaled Hanafy over the very flawed wheat import system he insisted on replacing.

Makram Mohamed Ahmed asks why there’s secrecy around the new draft bill on the construction of churches in a column for Al Ahram. Rumors circulating that the draft requires the approval of the governor to build or renovate a church within four months, but allows for appeals on the approval in front of the administrative judiciary which can take up to 10 years will enrage public opinion on the draft, he says.

Former MP and scholar Amr El Shobaki writes on the state’s inability to deal with “institutional thugs” in a nod to infamous lawyer / football club president Mortada Mansour, in a piece for Al Masry Al Youm. The article chastises the government generally for being unable to enforce the law in police stations, public transportation, implementing court rulings, or address the situation with Christians being kicked out of their homes in Minya, claiming the state is either “involved” or “unaware,” both of which are disasters.