Egypt’s new cabinet is being sworn in, days after the country’s interim president chose a new prime minister
State television aired the ministers being sworn in live from the presidential palace on Saturday. The new cabinet is led by former Housing Minister Ibrahim Mahlab.
The new cabinet keeps Field Marshal Abdel Fattah al-Sisi as the country’s defence minister, quashing speculation he was on the cusp of announcing a widely expected bid for the presidency.
"He is expected to continue in his post until all the issues regarding the election laws are resolved,” said a source speaking to Reuters.
The country’s interior minister, in charge of police, also remains the same. Oil Minister Sherif Ismail and Planning Minister Ashraf al-Arabi were also reappointed.
Prime Minister Mahlab held a senior position in the now dissolved party of ousted autocrat Hosni Mubarak.
The surprise resignation of the cabinet earlier this week, including then-Prime Minister Hazem el-Beblawi, comes a few months before the presidential vote. Mahlab will keep 20 ministers from el-Beblawi’s government and has appointed 11 new ones, mostly technocrats.
