Red carpet for President Sisi”s convoy criticised in Egypt

The use of a red carpet for the motorcade of President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has provoked criticism in Egypt. Cars carrying President Sisi and other officials drove down the red carpet on Saturday as they were visiting projects in 6th of October City, south of the Egypt’s capital Cairo. Several commentators questioned the apparent extravagance, […]

The use of a red carpet for the motorcade of President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has provoked criticism in Egypt.
Cars carrying President Sisi and other officials drove down the red carpet on Saturday as they were visiting projects in 6th of October City, south of the Egypt’s capital Cairo.
Several commentators questioned the apparent extravagance, just as the president was making a speech about the need to cut government subsidies.
The military said the carpet was meant to give joy to the Egyptian people.
Criticism of Mr Sisi, a former military chief who led the overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi in 2013, is rare in mainstream Egyptian media.  But media personalities and activists mocked the fact that pictures of the presidential motorcade driving down a road covered in red carpet were broadcast shortly before Mr Sisi gave a speech in which he warned the state could not continue subsidising water and electricity bills for low-income families.