Egypt's parliament speaker Ali Abdel-Aal (Photo: Al Ahram)
With no mention that there would be an imminent cabinet reshuffle, Egyptian MPs voted in a 10-minute extraordinary meeting on Thursday in favour of extending the term of Tarek Amer in office as governor of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) for a second four-year term.
Although many thought that a cabinet reshuffle would be voted on during the same meeting, parliament speaker Ali Abdel-Aal adjourned the meeting for 8 December after Amer was approved.
Abdel-Aal told MPs that he had received a message from President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on Monday, indicating that he had decided to extend Amer's position for a second four-year term as CBE governor in line with articles 215 and 216 of the constitution.
"As a result, I decided to call you [MPs] to meet in this extraordinary meeting to vote on the president's decision," said Abdel-Al.
Two thirds of MPs approved extending Amer's term in office in line with Article 216.
Abdel-Aal told MPs, "please note that the political leadership and the Central Bank are exerting tremendous efforts in drafting the country's monetary, credit, and financial policies in a way favourable to the conditions Egypt is facing.
"Amer is a well-known and highly experienced banker who has occupied the post of governor of the Central Bank for four years and its performance in this respect was excellent, and you all know his track record."
A reshuffle of provincial governors took place on Wednesday, also making some guess that this would be followed by a cabinet reshuffle next week and ahead of parliament's session scheduled on 9 December.
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