Al-Sissi goes cycling, urging Egyptians to save fuel
By: Nehal El-Sherif
13.06.2014
Cairo (dpa) - Egypt's President Abdel Fattah
al-Sissi led hundreds of students in a cycling marathon on Friday to
urge Egyptians to lower their fuel consumption to help the country's
ailing economy.
Dressed in sportswear and cycling gloves, al-Sissi was joined by Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb and the ministers of defence, interior and youth and sports.
"If you are driving a car you will pay around 4 pounds (0.55 dollars) for every 20 or 25 kilometres and Egypt pays 8 pounds," al-Sissi said in an address before the marathon began at 5:30 am.
"So, if I could walk or used a method like this [bicycle], then in a day I will be giving Egypt 16 pounds. Imagine if 3,000 people decided to do that," he added.
"We will not be able to build our country in any other way," he added.
In the 2011-2012 budget, energy comprised 72 per cent of the country's entire subsidy allocation.
The former head of the army's appearance Friday comes as a surprise to Egyptians, as the country's previous leaders have never taken to the streets in such a casual, non-authoritarian fashion.
In addition to perhaps indicating a new style of leadership in Egypt, al-Sissi's presence on a mere bicycle could also be taken as an attempt to portray an improvement in security in the country.
Though security guards could be seen cycling around him during the "marathon," al-Sissi's presence at the head of more than 2,000 people moving around Cairo displays an almost democratic vulnerability, especially as he made no public appearances while campaigning for the presidency for security reasons.
In his pre-marathon speech he called on Egyptians to unite around a common goal and set aside differences.
He also reiterated his call on the government to combat and eradicate sexual harassment, a major issue in the country after several cases of sexual assault were reported last week while thousands were celebrating al-Sissi's inauguration.
Reports of sexual harassment in Egypt have increased sharply in recent years. A 2013 survey by UN Women showed that more than 80 per cent of women in Egypt do not feel safe in the streets or on public transportation.
Dressed in sportswear and cycling gloves, al-Sissi was joined by Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb and the ministers of defence, interior and youth and sports.
"If you are driving a car you will pay around 4 pounds (0.55 dollars) for every 20 or 25 kilometres and Egypt pays 8 pounds," al-Sissi said in an address before the marathon began at 5:30 am.
"So, if I could walk or used a method like this [bicycle], then in a day I will be giving Egypt 16 pounds. Imagine if 3,000 people decided to do that," he added.
"We will not be able to build our country in any other way," he added.
In the 2011-2012 budget, energy comprised 72 per cent of the country's entire subsidy allocation.
The former head of the army's appearance Friday comes as a surprise to Egyptians, as the country's previous leaders have never taken to the streets in such a casual, non-authoritarian fashion.
In addition to perhaps indicating a new style of leadership in Egypt, al-Sissi's presence on a mere bicycle could also be taken as an attempt to portray an improvement in security in the country.
Though security guards could be seen cycling around him during the "marathon," al-Sissi's presence at the head of more than 2,000 people moving around Cairo displays an almost democratic vulnerability, especially as he made no public appearances while campaigning for the presidency for security reasons.
In his pre-marathon speech he called on Egyptians to unite around a common goal and set aside differences.
He also reiterated his call on the government to combat and eradicate sexual harassment, a major issue in the country after several cases of sexual assault were reported last week while thousands were celebrating al-Sissi's inauguration.
Reports of sexual harassment in Egypt have increased sharply in recent years. A 2013 survey by UN Women showed that more than 80 per cent of women in Egypt do not feel safe in the streets or on public transportation.
