The Shura Council Legislative Committee proposed - in its report on constitutional amendments which will be discussed today – granting exceptional period for the parties. Minister of Local Development Abdulsalam Al-Mahgoub stated that constitutional amendments on achieving decentralization aim at and provide allowing more scope and authorities to governors in their decision-making. This will cope, he added, with giving more freedom and potentials for local councils to question, follow up and monitor the executive body in its works and plans. He pointed out that local councils will participate with the executive body in mobilizing and increasing resources with the participation of the civil society.

The minister reaffirmed that President Mubarak is keen on the application of decentralization in all his directives, along with his electoral platform, his address in the opening of the parliamentary session and the constitutional amendments he had sent to the Shura and People's councils, and which contained the constitution amendments in Article 161 for achieving decentralization.

The minister also reiterated that the application of decentralization will include financial decentralization, and which is being realized in amending the local councils law, and in this framework plans of governorates are being laid for the 2007-2012 plans.