Egyptian PM Ismail Sharif Resigns After President Sisi Sworn in for Second Consecutive Term

Prime Minister Ismail Sharif (Twitter)

The Egyptian government, headed by Sharif Ismail, submitted its resignation on Tuesday to President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, days after the latter was sworn in as president for a second consecutive term.

Ambassador Bassam Radi, spokesman for the Egyptian presidency, said that the president has instructed the government to assume a caretaking role and to continue to perform its functions until the formation of a new cabinet.

Sisi was sworn in on Saturday before the parliament to kick of his second term. 

The constitution does not obligate the president to change the government at the start of a new term, but according to political tradition, the government resigns after the presidential elections to allow the president to choose whom he wants.

Article 147 of the Egyptian Constitution gives the president the right to dismiss the government or change some of its ministers, subject to the approval of the majority of the members of parliament.

A well-informed source said that Ismail would likely be reappointed, with limited changes affecting a number of ministers in the coming period.

Ismail, a former oil minister, assumed the premiership in September 2015, succeeding Ibrahim Mahlab. 

In 2014, he launched the economic reform program, which included the “floating of the Egyptian pound” and the lifting of government subsidies on certain goods and services. 

Based on that program, Egypt was granted in 2016 a loan of $12 billion dollars over three years from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

This article has been adapted from its original source.