New Egyptian government to be sworn in Monday
Egypt, Politics, 10/9/1999

The new government of Atef Ebeid will take the constitutional oath before President Hosni Mubarak on Monday. Ebeid will submit today a list of ministerial nominees to President Mubarak who is to endorse the final lineup after discussion with the prime minister-designate in view of his letter of assignment to the new cabinet.

Ebeid will hold one-on-one meetings with the nominees on Saturday evening and Sunday at the cabinet headquarters.

"The final formation of the government will be forged on Sunday evening. After the swear-in ceremony on Monday, the new ministers will meet with President Mubarak," Ebeid said.

Ebeid will then preside over a maiden meeting of his government on the plan of action to carry out the assignments set out by Mubarak.

Ebeid told Middle East News Agency MENA chief editor Mahfouz el-Ansari that six working groups would be formed to be tasked with economic affairs, production sectors, utilities, human development, mega projects and the sixth will be concerned with addressing public problems.

"These groups, which are separate and complementary at the same time, are of a ministerial level. Each will have a rapporteur from the ministers and a standing technical office where topics for discussions will be prepared," Ebeid said.

He elaborated that the technical office would take the minutes of groups' meetings and submit relevant memorandums to the prime minister. He said that one task of the prime minister is to coordinate between the performance of different ministries and that of the groups.

"A major task to be undertaken by the prime minister is to translate the assignments the President has given into committed action plans," added Ebeid.

Ebeid laid emphasis on the necessity of clearly specifying the goals to be pursued, particularly in terms of quantity, charting relevant implementation policies and laying down the appropriate legislation.

"The plan of action," he said, "will evidently define the projects to be carried out and the decisions that should be taken, along with specifying the agency to be entrusted with the implementation under a strict timetable."

He pledged regular review of the assignments of the ministers and the prospective six groups.

"The state will provide all resources necessary for executing the action plan which will comply with the assignments President Mubarak has given to the new government whether these resources are natural or extraordinary allocations," he added.

Ebeid said that his government would not meet on a weekly basis so as "to allow enough time for ministers and ministerial groups for study, work and implementation."

He added that the cabinet would meet fortnightly, and that he would meet regularly with provincial governors and would seek consultations from public figures.

The prime minister-designate also voiced keenness on collective decision-making. "It is important to exchange views and take the right and effective decisions," he maintained.

"Since President Mubarak assigned me with forming the new government (on Tuesday), I have spent this time on giving a practical shape to the tasks. This has required me to make a series of contacts and consultations with several experts inside and outside the government and with officials and non-officials," Ebeid unveiled. He was commenting on the secrecy which has marked his efforts to bring together his government lineup.

He said that through these consultations he was able to outline the agencies that would help in carrying out the presidential assignments.

The new prime minister said he is interested in seeking the consultation of experts after Mubarak had picked him to form the new government. Ebeid categorically denied that his meetings over the past few days had started with nominees for portfolios in the new government.

He contended that contacts with these nominees would start only after he submits a list of the lineup to President Mubarak on Saturday morning.

In his efforts to set up his government, Ebeid has been guided by management rules grounded on setting the goals, specifying the required undertakings and the number of jobs necessary to carry out these tasks. This takes into account the track records of prospective ministers and the action plan to be observed in setting these tasks into motion.

Another management rule is concerned with the background of each candidate needed for doing a certain job.

"We observe these criteria which ensure good performance after observance of making the proper selection," Ebeid said.

Previous Stories:
  Formation of new Egyptian cabinet on Saturday   (10/7/1999)
  Authorization for Egyptian delegation to reach a partnership agreement with Europe   (6/11/1999)

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