Sherif Ismail, who is entrusted to form the caretaker government, began his consultations to form the government, after meeting with President Abed Al-Fattah Al-Sisi. The consultations are expected come to an end within a week.
Daily News Egypt learned from an official in the cabinet that the entire economic group is under revision, but he refused to name any minister that may leave. The source explained that the ministers of education, higher education, justice, and endowments will be the most prominent ministers that will be excluded from the new formation.
One of the workers in the cabinet said that Ismail, who did not arrive at the cabinet headquarters till 4 pm Saturday, will conduct the consultations of forming the government from the Ministry of Petroleum or the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC), away from the media.
Resigned prime minister Ibrahim Mehleb held a meeting with the former member of the government in which he thanked them and requested that they continue their duties until the formation of the new government.
Daily News Egypt monitored a number of ministers that came out the meeting with Mehleb. Minister of Finance Hany Dimian, Minister of Youth Khaled Abed El Aziz, Ministry of Supply Khaled Hanafy, and Minister of Planning Ashraf El-Araby came out of the meeting with a wide smile. However, Minister of Investment Ashraf Salman, Minister of Housing Mostafa Madbouly, and Minister of International Cooperation Naglaa Al-Ahwani came out with a troubled face. Al-Ahwani told the journalists literally “you can be relieved from us”.
Minister of Investment Ashraf Salman told Daily News Egypt that history will judge their actions, and that his own continuation with the new government is something that he does not know, noting that his remarks on the pound was poorly understood and did not impact the local currency.
Salman said he called on the people to review the Euromoney conference transcript that proves he did not intervene in the Central Bank of Egypt’s business of currency.
He added that he meant the reserve of foreign exchange is no longer a matter of choice, and that he did not speak of currency, which comes within the monetary policy through attracting investments that could generate foreign currencies.
Minister of Justice Ahmed Al-Zind said that God will reconcile those most suitable for Egypt in the current phase and that everyone is a soldier serving Egypt. He added that he would be happy to serve under the new prime minister, if Egypt needs him.
Mehleb left the cabinet’s headquarters at 4pm, after gathering his papers from his office and shaking hands with the majority of employees.