“Centralized administration” breeds corruption

Al Masry Al Youm columnist Amr El Shobaky publishes a letter from a reader on how centralized administration breeds corruption in Egypt. The centralized system leaves smaller officials feeling lethargic towards situations that could easily be addressed, he says. Governors are simply observers of whatever ministry is operating in their governorate, while to stop illegal construction, the head of a municipality must report to the Ministry of Interior, which reports to the facilities police, that then reports back to the municipality.