07 May 2013, News Wires – Egypt is expected to drop Oil Minister Osama Kamel as part of a cabinet-wide reshuffle, according to a report.
A total of 11 ministers are expected to get the axe following President Mohamed Morsi’s comments last month that he would revamp a government that has faced heat for failing to revive Egypt’s economy amid ongoing political turmoil.
On Monday, Prime Minister Hisham Kandil met with Sherif Haddara, chairman of the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation, Reuters reported. Haddara is expected to take over as oil minister from Kamel.
An official announcement was expected on Tuesday before President Mohamed Morsi heads to Brazil for a state visit.
The Egyptian opposition has demanded a complete overhaul of Morsi’s cabinet, including the removal of Kandil.
The opposition says the announced reshuffle would do little to help build the political consensus the International Monetary Fund requires for economic reforms needed to secure a $4.8 billion loan.
“As long as they don’t change the prime minister, we can’t see serious change in the cabinet,” Khaled Dawoud, spokesman for the National Salvation Front, a loose alliance of non-Islamist parties, told Reuters.