Egypt cabinet reshuffle to take place next week, PM says

A reshuffle of the Egyptian cabinet will be done early next week, Prime Minister Hisham Kandil said in remarks carried on state newspaper al-Ahram’s website on Monday, but he declined to give details on which ministries will be affected.

President Mohamed Mursi’s opponents have been demanding the formation of a new government to oversee parliamentary elections expected to begin this year.

The Muslim Brotherhood, the movement that propelled Mursi to power last year, has also become increasingly critical of the Kandil government.

On Sunday, Egypt’s Justice Minister Ahmed Mekky resigned ahead of the cabinet reshuffle in which he was expected to be replaced, state media reported.

According to Justice Ministry spokesman Ahmed Salam, Mekky submitted his resignation to Mursi on Saturday. It followed a protest on Friday by Mursi’s Islamist backers demanding the “purification” of the judiciary.

A bill has been submitted to parliament which critics say would give the government too much control over the make-up of the judiciary.

Mekky, who was appointed in August, had been quoted in local media as saying he would resign if the law was passed. The Islamist-dominated upper house of parliament has yet to vote on the legislation.