CAIRO, 22 December 2005 — Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has asked Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif to form a new Cabinet, a state newspaper reported yesterday, but senior officials expect few changes in important economic ministries.
The economy portfolios in the existing Cabinet of Nazif, who was appointed in July 2004, are held by liberals who have reinvigorated a privatization program, slashed taxes and implemented other reforms that have been praised by investors.
A reshuffle is a routine procedure after parliamentary elections, which ended on Dec. 7. Mubarak’s ruling party won an overwhelming majority in the vote, which rights groups and observers said was marred by widespread abuses. The state-owned Al-Ahram newspaper said Nazif was holding consultations, after he had been asked to form the new government by Mubarak during a meeting on Tuesday.
“It is expected that Nazif will complete his consultations before the end of this month,” the newspaper reported.
