February 10 — Cairo: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi held talks with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly to discuss a possible cabinet reshuffle as part of efforts to ensure the government’s structure aligns with evolving national priorities.
Presidential Spokesman Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy said the discussions focused on reorganizing the current cabinet to enhance its ability to address key national objectives.
According to the spokesman, President El-Sisi stressed that the government’s new formation must operate according to clearly defined priorities. These include strengthening national security and foreign policy, supporting economic growth and production, enhancing energy and food security, and advancing social and human development.
El-Shennawy added that the president also assigned updated responsibilities to the government in line with the goals of the planned restructuring.
The House of Representatives is expected to hold a general session later on Tuesday to review what the parliament’s secretary-general described as an “important matter,” as anticipation grows that the proposed cabinet changes will be presented for legislative approval.
Under Egypt’s constitution, the president has the authority to propose cabinet reshuffles after consulting with the prime minister, but the changes must be approved by parliament. Traditionally, new cabinets or reshuffles are introduced at the beginning of parliamentary terms, either through a full reorganization or partial changes involving selected ministries.
Parliamentary sources indicated that, in an unprecedented move, the president sought lawmakers’ opinions on proposed ministerial nominees through a roll-call vote before the formal oath-taking process.
According to parliamentary procedures, the reshuffle process officially begins when the president submits a formal letter to parliament listing the proposed ministers and the portfolios affected. The speaker then presents the letter during a parliamentary session, where it is read aloud and voted on as a single package. Approval requires a majority vote of attending members, after which parliament informs the president of the decision. Once approved, the new ministers are invited to take the constitutional oath.
Media reports suggest that Prime Minister Madbouly, who has been in office since June 2018, is expected to remain in his position. If confirmed, the upcoming changes would represent the fifth cabinet reshuffle during his tenure.
Television host Ahmed Mousa stated that consultations regarding potential ministerial appointments have concluded, noting that several candidates were interviewed in recent days.
Member of Parliament Mustafa Bakry also said the reshuffle would take place under Madbouly’s leadership and would include what he described as “four major surprises.”
Bakry added that the reshuffle is based on evaluating ministerial performance and the government’s progress in implementing its previous program. He also indicated that several individuals who demonstrated strong performance in previous roles, including at least one governor, are expected to be promoted.
The most recent cabinet reshuffle took place in July 2024 and involved changes to 20 ministerial positions.
