CAIRO: Prime Minister Kamal El-Ganzoury’s “national salvation government” was sworn in on Wednesday, with the mysterious name of interior minister disclosed just hours before for alleged “security reasons.”
The new government includes 12 ministers from former premier Essam Sharaf’s Cabinet — two of which have been in office since ousted president Hosni Mubarak’s reign: Electricity Minister Hassan Younes and International Cooperation Minister Fayza Aboul Naga.
The choice of General Mohamed Ibrahim, former head of the Giza Security Directorate, as the new interior minister heightened the agitation of activists towards the new Cabinet.
“As activists, we know his history and the vicious way he dealt with demonstrators,” said Ingy Hamdy, spokesperson of the April 6 Youth Movement, adding that they do not acknowledge El-Ganzoury nor his new Cabinet.
She said Ibrahim was responsible for the notorious violent raid on the Sudanese refugees’ sit-in in Mostafa Mahmoud Square in December 2005, which left at least 28 dead.
“It is a continuation of Mubarak’s men in power,” she added.
El-Ganzoury was appointed prime minister two weeks ago amid heavy criticism of him as well as the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF).
For political analyst Nabil Abdel Fattah of Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, the new line-up of minister is “traditional.”
“It’s a continuation of what Mubarak used to do, technocratic and bureaucratic, choosing the top officials in the ministry,” he said.
Abdel Fattah explained that these people do not have the required vision and skills to manage the ministries during the critical transitional period nor the talent to lead at this time of instability.
“The experience of the new Cabinet is old and not able to adapt to the ever-changing global environment with the economic and financial crisis, in addition to dealing with the Islamist pressure which will arise in the new parliament and is likely to create problems between the political powers and SCAF,” he said.
Some political powers and activists refuse to acknowledge El-Ganzoury as prime minister and the leader of the salvation government they were demanding.
Activist Yasser El-Hawary from the Youth for Justice and Freedom Movement, said, “This is a government that does not represent [us] and the sit-in continuing in protest of it is the biggest proof that it does not have any legitimacy.”
The Free Egyptians Party is also against the choice of El-Ganzoury as prime minister.
"It seems there are special arrangements between SCAF and El-Ganzoury that have nothing to do with serving the people," said Basil Adel, member of the party’s political bureau.
SCAF appointed El-Ganzoury under public pressure on the army council to hand over power to a civilian body, forcing Sharaf and his Cabinet to resign.
The council issued a decree on Wednesday granting some presidential powers to El-Ganzoury.
According to Decree 136 for 2011, the prime minister has the authority to carry on the duties of the president, except those pertaining to the judiciary and the military forces, said a Cabinet statement.
“There is controversy regarding SCAF granting presidential powers as we are ruled now by a semi-presidential constitution,” said Abdel Fattah.
"The scope of the president’s authority is unknown now because we have no constitution. SCAF has authorities according to the constitutional decree," said Adel, who described the decree as “unconstitutional.”
Newcomers
The Ministry of Social Solidarity has been changed to the Ministry of Supplies and Domestic Trade, with Gouda Abdel Khalek staying on as minister.
The newly appointed ministers are: Gamal El-Araby (education); Hussein Mostafa Moussa (higher education); Fathy Fikry (manpower), Shaker Abdel Hamid Soliman (culture), Momtaz El-Saeid (finance), Fouad El-Nawawi (health), Mohamed Reda Ismail (agriculture), Ahmed Anis (information), Galal Mostafa El-Saeid (transportation), Hussein Massoud (civil aviation) and Adel Abdel Hamid Abdallah (justice)
Two minister of state were appointed, Mohamed Ibrahim Ali for antiquities and Mostafa Hussein Kamal for the environment.
Along with Aboul Naga, two women are part of the new Cabinet: Nagwa Khalil for social insurance and social affairs as well as Nadia Zakhary, minister of state for scientific research, which used to be part of the ministry of higher education.
