LEGISLATION WATCH- House aims to pass Local Administration Act, Press and Media Act part 2 this legislative session: The House of Representatives is aiming to pass the second part of the Press and Media Act during the current legislative session, Parliamentary Speaker Ali Abdel Aal tells state-owned Al Ahram. The Press and Media Act, now before the House Culture Committee, may be pushed to the beginning of the next legislative session if need be. The legislation was split into two sections, the first of which was passed in 2016. The second part will establish the regulations and guidelines for those working in the media. The Local Administration Act, which aims to decentralize local councils and organize district elections, has faced delays at nearly every step of the way. House majority leader Mohamed Elsewedy had previously said the act would take 3-5 years to implement once passed.

The FY2018-19 state budget will be parliament’s top priority when it returns from recess after the presidential election, Abdel Aal said. The Ismail Cabinet is expected to present the draft budget to President Abdel Fattah El Sisi this week for approval before shipping it to the House at the end of the month. The budget includes a GDP growth target of 5.8%, aims to reduce the budget deficit to 8.4% of GDP, and will increase spending on social welfare, wages, and commodity subsidies.