DAILY NEWS EGYPT (Egypt), JERUSALEM POST (Israel), AP
On Tuesday, Egyptian President Morsi appointed Mohamed Mekki as his new Vice-President. Mekki is a former senior judge and the first civilian to assume the role. Abdel Fattah el-Sissi was also named as the new chief Field Marshal whilst General Sidqi Sobhi became Chief of Staff. Both are young, religious military men.
Mekki’s brother Ahmed was appointed Minister of Justice. The brothers, Daily News Egypt reports, were leaders in the independent judiciary campaign in 2005, which challenged former President Mubarak’s power over the judiciary.
President Morsi’s overhaul of government has left many still confused over what Egypt’s future will bring.
Morsi’s forced retirement of Hussein Tantawi, head of armed forces, and Chief of Staff Sami Anan on Sunday has been commented as a move destined to revoke the powers of the military.
Morsi made clear Monday that the move was not personal but for “a better future with a new generation and long-awaited new blood.”
The Associated Press wrote that Morsi’s shake-up of the balance of power had transformed the President “from a weak leader to a savvy politician” overnight.
Egyptian Nobel Laureate Mohamed ElBaradei has praised Morsi’s military reshuffle as a “step on the right track,” yet still envisages problems.
With military stripped of legislative authority & in absence of parliament, president holds imperial powers. Transitional mess continues.
— Mohamed ElBaradei (@ElBaradei) August 13, 2012
Unsurprisingly, the Jerusalem Post is skeptical of the prominent religious leaders and their possible threat to Israel. The newspaper reports that General Sidqi Sobhi, the newly appointed Chief of Staff was quoted earlier in the year of accusing the country of engaging in a “Zionist plot” to weaken national identity in Egypt.
The military has been integral to Egypt’s government for the past 60 years, yet many now worry power has been reserved for Islamists. Yet, with the military shake-up, the power is residing in Morsi’s hands.
Today, Morsi has power that far exceeds what Mubarak ever had.
— The Big Pharaoh (@TheBigPharaoh) August 12, 2012
In
#Egypt, revolutionaries are snookered. If they protest against#Morsi Power grab, he will offer reinstating the Brotherhood parliament.— Nervana Mahmoud (@Nervana_1) August 14, 2012
