New Egyptian premier sworn in
June 17, 2014
Ibrahim Mahlab was sworn as prime minister on Tuesday in an early morning ceremony at the presidential palace in Cairo.
"I swear by God to sincerely protect the republican system, to respect the constitution and law and take full care of the people's interests, protect the independence of the nation and the unity and safety of its lands," Mahlab said as he took the oath in front of President el-Sissi.
Last week, Mahlab and his ministers submitted their resignations to make way for a new government following el-Sissi's election, but he was asked by the new president to return to the post.
The new Cabinet includes 34 ministers including four women and several technocrats. The Cabinet must be approved by the new parliament, which is to be elected in July.
Prime Minister Mahlab must implement strict measures to revive the country's flailing economy, which has suffered after more than three years of protests and instability. Foreign investors have left the country and political unrest has dealt a severe blow to its tourism industry.
Egypt has been in turmoil since an uprising in 2011 that saw longtime strongman president Hosni Mubarak deposed. Then last July, his successor Islamist President Mohammed Morsi was ousted by army chief and newly elected President el-Sissi. Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood has since been banned as a terrorist outfit, but the group and its supporters continue to claim that the new authorities are illegitimate.
El-Sissi won the elections in May with nearly 97 percent of the vote with a voter turnout around 45 percent.
mg/hc (dpa, AFP, AP, Reuters)