Egypt PM Accepts Deputy’s Resignation

Egypt’s interim Prime Minister Hazem El-Beblawi has officially accepted the resignation of his deputy Ziad Bahaa El-Din, Al-Ahram’s Arabic news website reported on Thursday.

Bahaa El-Din, who was also the international cooperation minister, had submitted his resignation on 23 January but did not announce it publicly until four days later, when he wrote on his official Facebook page that he believed his role in the transitional road map was complete after the successful ratification of the newly-amended constitution this month. He said that he wished to return to “political, partisan and legal work.”

El-Beblawi has put planning minister Ashraf El-Araby temporarily in charge of the international cooperation portfolio. A new cabinet reshuffle in expected within days.

Prior to his resignation, Bahaa El-Din had occasionally criticised the interim government’s decisions, most notably a protest law passed late last year which outlaws all demonstrations not pre-approved by the police.

His appointment to the posts of deputy-prime minister and minister of cooperation came in July 2013 as part of the interim government formed after the ouster of president Mohamed Morsi.

Source: Ahram Online