Not a caretaker government

After a week of deliberations the first government under newly-elected president Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi was sworn in on 17 June, led by Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb.

The new government, the third since the ouster of former Islamist president Mohamed Morsi on 3 July, 2013, increased the number of cabinet ministers from 31 to 34. Twenty members of the outgoing cabinet retained their jobs, including Minister of Defence Sedki Sobhi and Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim. Together with newly-elected president Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi, these two influential cabinet members comprise what t many political analysts consider the real centre of power in Egypt.

Mehleb was commissioned to form a new government on 9 June, one day after ex-army chief Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi took the oath of office as Egypts new president. Under article 146 of the new constitution the government must resign after the results of the presidential elections are officially announced.

Mehleb, who led the swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday, told reporters he is not leading a caretaker government. The government will not act as if it is in power only until new parliamentary elections are held and new government is formed. It will make decisions for the long-term, and will be working day and night to secure a brighter future.

Mehleb said he agreed with Al-Sisi his governments priorities must include restoring stability and security, fighting terrorism, and improving public services. He dismissed rumours the controversial House of Representatives Law, ratified by outgoing president Adli Mansour on 5 June, would be amended. Instead, he said the legislative reform committee formed by Al-Sisi last week would take charge of revising legislation to ensure it conforms with the new constitution. The prime minister also promised the cabinet would also work towards promoting a religious discourse that disseminates the ideals of tolerance and moderation as espoused by Islam and Christianity.

The new government contained few surprises. The most dramatic move was the phasing out of the ministry of information, to be replaced by a National Press Council, which will oversee the regulation of audio-visual and print media as was envisaged by article 211 of the new constitution. Nabil Fahmis replacement as foreign minister by Sameh Shoukri, Egypts ambassador to the United States from 2008 to 2012, left many commentators perplexed.

Al-Ahram political analyst Hassan Abu Taleb believes Fahmi did a good job improving relations with Washington and the African Union in the aftermath of Mohamed Morsis ouster. His removal, speculates Abu Taleb, was probably a result of comments made during a visit to Washington last March that the relationship between Egypt and the US was rather like a marriage, a comparison that played badly with both officials and the public.

That both Shoukri and Fahmi served as ambassadors to the US is telling, says Abu Taleb. It signals the importance the post-Morsi leadership in Egypt gives to relations with the US.

It is also noteworthy that Shoukri was Hosni Mubaraks information secretary from 1995 to 1999.

Laila Iskandar, who served in the outgoing cabinet as minister of environment, will occupy the new cabinet post of minister of urban development. According to Mehleb the new ministry will be responsible for improving conditions in slum areas and squatter communities on the fringes of major cities.

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Not a caretaker government