Egypt’s Morsi Remakes Cabinet, Increasing Islamist Presence
By Abigail Hauslohner, Sunday, January 6, 2:20 PM
CAIRO — Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi rebuilt his cabinet Sunday, replacing 10 ministers and amplifying the Islamist presence in the government. The move, in which at least three Islamists were appointed to head major economic ministries, comes a day ahead of a planned visit by the International Monetary Fund to discuss an impending $4.8 billion loan.
The shake-up also marked the latest in a series of appointments and forced resignations that have rattled Egypt’s government in the two years of political turmoil since a popular uprising ousted former president Hosni Mubarak. Morsi, as well as the transitional leaders who ruled before his June election, have used past cabinet shuffles as a means to assuage popular frustration over the slow pace of economic and political reforms.
Islamist political parties gave their support to the changes, but some opposition members criticized the move, saying it served only to further consolidate Islamist control of Egypt’s top government positions weeks after a conflict over the religious character of Egypt’s new constitution left the country bitterly divided.
Mohamed Adel, a leader in the opposition 6th of April youth movement, said in a statement Sunday that Morsi’s administration had failed to consult opposition parties on the moves and that the Muslim Brotherhood would bear responsibility for any bad policies to come.
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