Egypt’s Al Sissi says cabinet to remain in place if agenda approved by parliament

Cairo: The newly-appointed Egyptian cabinet will remain in power if the parliament due to be elected in October and November approves its agenda, President Abdul Fattah Al Sissi said on Monday.

“There is no connection between the next parliament and the government submitting its resignation, a lot of people think that but it is not true,” Al Sissi said in a speech at a military parade marking the anniversary of Egypt’s 1973 war with Israel.

“The government at the time will present a programme, if parliament votes for it, the government will remain in order to implement it, if not, a new government will be presented.” Al Sissi had sworn in a new government in September with the outgoing oil minister Sherif Esmail as prime minister. He kept the defence, foreign, interior and most economy-related ministers in place and appointed 16 new ministers.

Egypt holds a long-awaited parliamentary election in October and the new chamber will have a say over the government and can even reject Al Sissi’s choice for prime minister, according to the country’s constitution.

But Al Sissi’s critics say that in reality it will be a rubber-stamp house because of a tough crackdown on his critics and a weak opposition.

The election concludes in November and many had expected a new government would be named after the results were announced.

Egypt on Monday celebrated the 42nd anniversary of its war against Israel, with President Abdul Fattah Al Sissi emphasising links between the Egyptians and their army.

“We have to remember that one of the main reasons for our success in the October War was the relationship between the Egyptian army and the people,” Al Sissi, an ex-army general, said in an address. “At the time, the whole army pursued one aim, which is to regain national dignity and liberate the land. And the people backed their army. This is a lesson, which we cannot forget.”

The war cleared the way for negotiations between Egypt and Israel, culminating in a 1979 peace treaty.

In 2013, the Egyptian army led at the time by Al Sissi ousted Islamist president Mohammad Mursi following enormous street protests against his rule. Last year, Al Sissi was elected president.

“The Egyptian army is an advocate of the people and will not stand against their wishes,” Al Sissi added in his address at a ceremony held in the Military Academy in Cairo.

Citing a surge in attacks on security forces since Mursi’s overthrow, Al Sissi said: “Our supreme aim is to preserve our country in view of regional events.”

Al Sissi has repeatedly portrayed Egypt as being in the frontline of a campaign against regional violent militancy. Earlier this year, he secured an initial approval from other Arab leaders to set up a pan-Arab military force to tackle regional hotshots.

“The Egyptian army is able to protect their country and helps in defending the Arab region,” he said on Monday.

Attending the ceremony was Tunisian President Beji Qaid Al Sebsi, who is currently in Egypt, marking his first visit to the country since taking office 10 months ago.

The celebration included a military parade, which featured an air force show in which recently delivered French fighter jets Rafale participated.

Egypt has recently shown interest in boosting its military hardware and acquiring arms from other suppliers than its long-time ally, the US.

— with inputs from Ramadan Al Sherbini, Correspondent