Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has reshuffled his Cabinet. The changes are in four portfolios -- the ministries of Local Development, Tourism, Culture and the Public Business Sector. CGTN's Yasser Hakim has the details.
It was a reaction to public demands. Most of the changes are in the services sectors. Public services have not seen the required progress promised by the government. The minister of Public Business Sector has requested to leave office to have more time for his private affairs. He is replaced by Khaled Badawi, CEO of Al Ahly Capital Holding, a private equity firm.
He joins Inas Abdel Dayem as new Minister of Culture.
But most significantly, is the sacking of the minister of tourism Yehia Rashed.Tourism has witnessed a 60% rise in visitors in the last year than the previous three years.
The new Tourism minister is Rania El Mashat, a former IMF advisor and deputy governor of the Central Bank. Parliament has approved the reshuffle with a landslide majority. It highlights the low popularity levels of the current government.
It was expected that Prime Minister Sherif Ismael would be relieved from his post. He stays despite undergoing a critical medical operation that has kept him out of office for months.
YASSER HAKIM CAIRO, EGYPT "Inspite of its unpopularity, the president has opted for a limited cabinet reshuffle at this moment, noting that a whole new government will be installed anyway after presidential elections next March. Yasser Hakim. CGTN Cairo."