Formation, changing of Egypt's government under constitution

CAIRO  - 3 June 2024: Egypt's constitutional framework lays out the key steps for establishing and altering the country's government. 

 

At the center of this process is the role of the President, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who holds the authority to appoint the Prime Minister. 

 

Typically, this position is filled by an individual with substantial political experience and a strong understanding of Egypt's challenges.

 

Once the Prime Minister is in place, they consult with the President to nominate the members of the Cabinet, or Council of Ministers. 

 

The President then has the power to approve or reject these proposed Cabinet appointments.

 

With the Cabinet formed, the next step is presenting the new government to the House of Representatives, Egypt's parliament, for a vote of confidence. 

 

A majority vote in parliament is required for the Cabinet to be officially sworn in and begin its term.

 

The Constitution outlines the Cabinet's key responsibilities, which include executing laws passed by parliament, managing the country's affairs, and implementing government policies. Importantly, the Cabinet remains accountable to both the President and parliament.

 

The President retains the ability to reshuffle the Cabinet by replacing ministers as needed. Similarly, the Prime Minister can choose to resign, triggering the formation of a new Cabinet.

 

 Parliament also holds the power to vote and dismiss the entire Cabinet if it loses confidence in the government's performance.

 

These processes and the division of powers are detailed across several articles in the Egyptian Constitution, including:

 

Article 143: Outlining the Prime Minister's powers and responsibilities in forming the Cabinet

 

Article 144: Specifying the procedure for presenting the Cabinet to parliament for a confidence vote 

 

Article 145: Detailing the President's authority to approve or reject Cabinet appointments

 

Article 146: Defining the Cabinet's duties to execute laws, manage affairs, and implement policies

 

Article 147: Establishing the rules for reshuffling or dismissing the Cabinet