Motion to summon petroleum minister for alleged nepotism

CAIRO – 3 May 2017: Minister of Petroleum Tarek el-Molla was requested Sunday for an inquiry at the parliament over allegations of nepotism.

Parliamentarian Ashraf Rahim submitted the motion to Speaker Ali Abdel Aal over the appointment of Endowments Minister Mokhtar Gomaa’s daughter at the Middle East Oil Refinery (Midor).

Mokhtar’s daughter graduated in 2016 from the Faculty of Arts, English department, while thousands of graduates of faculties of engineering in Egypt struggle to secure jobs at petroleum companies, Rahim said.

“On what basis was she appointed when appointment to ministries and government authorities is only decided after an official competition per the civil service law... Are all graduates granted equal opportunities before the minister and his companies? Or was the endowments minister’s daughter, a 2016 graduate, appointed just because she is the daughter of a minister?” Shorouk newspaper quoted Rahim as asking.

“What about the news that more than 188 employees have been appointed at different petroleum companies based on the mandate of Tarek El-Molla, although he is the only minister that does not respond to MPs regarding any request to appoint or transfer or settle a case?” Rahim added.