CAIRO: Kamal El-Ganzoury, appointed prime minister on Friday amid heavy criticism, said in a press conference that the new government will not be formed before parliamentary elections slated for Monday.
“I have asked Field Marshal [Hussein Tantawi] to give me time to appoint a Cabinet which satisfies all people,” he said, welcoming nominations from political parties and youth coalitions.
Tantawi, head of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), officially announced the decision to appoint the former prime minister on Friday. El-Ganzoury will be sworn in on Tuesday.
“[SCAF] has given me all the authorities that could be given to a prime minister,” El-Ganzoury said.
He succeeds Essam Sharaf, whose Cabinet resigned this week in protest of violence by security forces against peaceful protesters that left tens dead and hundreds injured.
Meanwhile, members of the April 6 Youth Movement, the Revolution Youth Coalition and the We are All Khaled Said group headed to the Cabinet of Ministers to start a sit-in to prevent El-Ganzoury from entering.
“We will not accept a member of the old regime again, [El-Ganzoury’s] name was not suggested,” said Ingy Hamdy, spokesperson for the April 6 Youth Movement, adding that this demonstration will continue alongside the Tahrir protests.
“We are demanding a presidential council made up of four civilians as well as a national salvation government headed by Mohamed ElBaradei and Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh to announce a constitutional declaration and for all political authority to be taken from SCAF,” Hamdy said.
The appointment was strongly rejected and criticized by demonstrators and political powers due to the fact that El-Ganzoury was a member of the old regime and that he is over 70 years old.
“There are people other than Mubarak’s men,” said Yasser El-Hawary, from the Youth for Justice and Freedom Movement.
“It continues to be just a change of faces but not a true change in the political life,” he added, noting that the demonstration in Tahrir Square will continue until real change happens and the transition of power to a civilian authority.
Al-Wafd Party also rejected El-Ganzoury’s appointment. “It is shocking after a youth revolution, people in their 80s are chosen for leadership, it is saddening but the Egyptian people are persistent and will not give up until their aspirations are met,” said Hussein Mansour, member of Al-Wafd’s higher committee.
The Egyptian Social Democratic Party leader, Farid Zahran, described SCAF’s decision as “unsuccessful.”
“El-Ganzoury’s name did not come up at all as part of the events in the past months and he wasn’t known for his support and empathy to the revolution and the revolutionary powers,” he said.
“Moreover, the fact that people like ElBaradei and Aboul Fotouh turned down the position due to the limitations of power and authorities given to the new government means that the problem is still continuing,” Zahran explained.
There have been numerous unconfirmed reports that several of the names suggested by the demonstrators and political powers have refused the position due to the limitation in authorities SCAF is offering.
On the other hand, Yousry Hamad, spokesperson of the Salafi Nour Party, explained that in the current situation there will not be a unanimous agreement on any person chosen for this position.
“It is true El-Ganzoury is part of the old regime, however he was known for his opposition and he has a great economic mind,” he said, pointing out that none of the figures suggested for the position had the economic background and capabilities needed for the current situation.
At the same time, Hamad said that the decision shows that the ruling bodies still perceive older generations as the saviors.
He also noted that this Cabinet, which will stay for six months, needs to be technocratic and work on restructuring the Ministry of Interior, handling the security situation and the economy, as well as address the January 25 Revolution demands which have been forgotten.
Politician and candidate in the upcoming parliamentary elections, Amr Hamzawy, in a statement on his Facebook page, gave two main objections to El-Ganzoury’s appointment.
Hamzawy said SCAF doesn’t give the Cabinet full legislative and executive authorities and powers to lead the transitional period. He also said that the Tahrir Squares around Egypt and the political powers have suggested names for the national salvation government which did not include El-Ganzoury.
Meanwhile, engineer Mamdouh Hamza, general secretary of the National Council, on his Twitter account announced his support of SCAF’s decision to appoint El-Ganzoury as the new prime minister, saying it is the “first time he feels SCAF is making a decision that is reflecting what is on the street.”
He explained that El-Ganzoury is the right person in the right place, as he was expelled from the Cabinet due to his rejection of Mubarak’s sons’ business in 1999.
