Sources from the president’s office denied reports that Prime Minister Hesham Qandil would be replaced by former Prime Minister Kamal al-Ganzouri.
A Cabinet reshuffle is on the agenda for next week’s national dialogue, but the president wants Qandil to stay in office until the parliamentary elections tentatively scheduled for April, the sources added.
A senior government official said the president and prime minister are both dissatisfied with the interior minister, who they blame for failing to contain ongoing violent clashes since January, and failing to contain the anger of the police, who have requested to be armed so as to better defend themselves against protesters. They are considering replacing the minister, the official said.
Mahmoud Hussein, Muslim Brotherhood secretary general, denied that the Brotherhood had suggested Ganzouri replace Qandil.
Al-Masry Al-Youm confirmed that Ganzouri had not been contacted about the potential switch. Ganzouri left his office in August.
Opposition groups have demanded Qandil’s resignation in recent demonstrations.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
