Potential members of El-Ghanzouri's new cabinet? (Photo: Ahram file)
Details are emerging of those likely to head economy-related matters in Egyptian prime minister Kamal El-Ganzouri's new government.
The full make-up of the cabinet is due to be announced on Saturday but the Egyptian press has been rife with speculation about possible appointments.
According to a report published on Ahram's Arabic gate on Friday, Fayza Aboul Naga, current minister of planning and international co-operation, has been asked by El-Ganzouri to continue her duties.
Momtaz Said, current second-in-command at the Ministry of Finance, is also mentioned by Ahram as favourite to succeed Hazem El-Beblawi as Egypt's next finance minister. Saeed was appointed to the deputy position at the end of September.
On Thursday, Kamal al-Ganzouri said he had no intention of taking on the finance portfolio in a cabinet, contradicting claims published by the independent Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper that Ganzouri would keep the Finance Ministry for himself.
"I will appoint a finance minister, because I can't take on such responsibility at this time," Ganzouri told reporters.
Current finance minister, El-Beblawi, told Reuters on Wednesday he had not been approached to stay on. Prior to Ganzouri's appointment, he submitted his resignation in October but it was rejected by the ruling military.
Ganzouri said he had met six candidates for various ministerial posts on Thursday and would continue consultations on Friday before completing the cabinet on Saturday.
"The new government will include three youth and two women, and there will be no civilian interior minister. From eight to 10 of the current ministers will stay," he said.
The posts would include a minister for investment and public enterprises, a portfolio that was abolished in the wake of Egypt's popular uprising early this year. The cabinet would include no deputies to the prime minister.
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