Egypt

Supply Minister rules out resigning over allegations of luxury residency

Egypt's Supply Minister Khaled Hanafy said on Monday that he will not be resigning over allegations that he has been living in a 5-star hotel since taking office at the expense of the Supply Ministry.

In parliament on Monday, Hanafy denied rumors circulated last night that he will be handing in his resignation over the affair, saying that the possibility can be "totally ruled out".

The minister continued his duties as usual on Monday, attending parliament for a meeting with the Agriculture Committee over the pricing policy of grain bought by the Supply Ministry from farmers during the harvest season.

Several partisan blocs within the House of Representatives have called for inquiries to be made into the allegations against Hanafy, deeming the affair a violation that the supply minister should be held accountable for, and possibly dismissed over, if proven to be true.

On Friday, parliament member and journalist Mostafa Bakry made a claim during his talk show "Haqa'eq wa Asrar" (Truths and secrets) that Hanafy has been residing in a luxury hotel suite since February 2014, racking up a bill of more than LE7 million for the ministry.

Ministry spokesman Mahmoud Diab immediately denied Bakry's claim, saying the minister — originally from Alexandria — has been paying for his accommodation in Cairo himself. 

 

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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