Qandil Named Prime Minister of Egypt

Egypt’s Morsi names new prime minister

Mohamed Morsi, the Egyptian president, has named former irrigation minister Hesham Qandil as the country’s new prime minister, state television has announced.

Qandil has been tasked with forming a cabinet, which he says he will do “in days”, in coordination with the president.

The appointment on Tuesday comes 25 days after Morsi was sworn in as Egypt’s first civilian and freely elected head of state. He replaced Hosni Mubarak, who was driven from office by a popular uprising in January last year.

Qandil was irrigation minister in the outgoing government of Kamal Ganzuri, whom he replaces as prime minister.

“This appointment of a patriotic and independent figure comes after much study and discussion to choose a person able to manage the current scenario,” said Yassir Ali, a spokesman for President Morsi.

Speaking at a press conference following the announcement on Tuesday, Qandil said his priority was to fulfill Morsi’s 100-day plan (which focuses on five main issues: security, traffic, bread, public cleanliness issues and fuel).

Qandil was part of the delegation headed by Morsi to the EU Summit in Ethiopia in mid-July. He was first appointed as minister of irrigation in July 2011.

He represented Egypt in several international conferences on water issues and also worked in the African Development Bank.