In a surprise move, Egypt’s military-backed interim government has resigned.
The country’s prime minister Hazem el-Beblawi made the announcement during a live TV address Monday. He didn’t give an exact reason why he and his cabinet were resigning, though the BBC’s Sally Nabil offers some insight. (Via YouTube / enc official)
NABIL “His government has been severely criticized in the past few weeks for being weak and incompetent. We have lots of strikes, not only in Cairo, but all over the country.” (Via BBC)
For months, the government has been dealing with widespread strikes from disgruntled workers, including garbage collectors and public transport employees — further straining Egypt’s already sluggish economy. (Via Fox News, Al Ahram)
Beblawi and his cabinet took office in July, less than two weeks after the army toppled Egypt’s first democratically-elected president Mohamed Morsi. (Via RT)
Morsi is currently facing a slew of charges against him, including murder and conspiring to commit treason. (Via CCTV)
According to the new constitution voters approved in January, new presidential elections must be held by mid-April.
Monday’s surprise decision appears to open the door for the man who orchestrated Morsi's removal to declare his candidacy. Egypt's popular army chief Abdel Fattah-al-Sisi has made no secret he wants run for president. (Via Euronews)
Should he choose to run, Sisi would have to first give up his position as defense minister. Al Ahram reports Egypt's Interim Adly Mansour is expected to accept the resignation of the cabinet.
