Egyptian president, Mohamed Morsi Cairo – Akram Ali It has been exactly two weeks after ex- Brotherhood member, Mohamed Morsi, became the first democratically elected president of Egypt following last year’s revolution, but many are getting frustrated by Morsi’s delay in announcing a new government.  Presidential spokesman, Yasser Ali, explained the reason for the delay was because Dr Morsi was carefully considering such an important choice.
In a press statement, Ali said: “Concerns have been raised by political forces, including the Brotherhood, about the possible candidates for the new Prime Minister role. But the President needs time to discuss his decision with all the national forces in Egypt to define the profile of the new PM.”
So far, Ali continued, the President has “been meeting various national figures, who are known for having good reputations and are respectable.”
The presidential spokesperson also said that Morsi will reveal the new Prime Minister after he returns from a visit to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he is due to participate in the African Summit. The Egyptian President plans to travel to the Ethiopian capital on Sunday to attend an important summit, which he considers is “a step towards Egypt’s return to the arms of Africa and the Nile Basin Countries”.
Yasser denied all speculation being spread in political circles about the identity of the new Prime Minister.
Regarding the developments of the detainee crisis, the acting spokesman of the Presidency said that President Morsi was very keen to put an end to the issue, preferably before Ramadan.
Speaking about the move by the Constitutional Court, which recently reversed the President’s decree to reinstate Parliament, Yasser said the President was currently negotiating with national forces and elders of the Judiciary to find a solution that would reflect the peoples will and lead to stability.
The delay in announcing the new Prime Minister has caused confusion in the existing PM Kamal El Ganzoury’s Government, which submitted its resignation after Morsi’s victory, but was asked to stay on until the formation of the new government.
Sources of the Council of Ministers told Arabstoday that Prime Minister Ganzoury is still conducting his affairs as normal and holding regular meetings with Ministers and Governors to complete urgent issues.  However some sources say that many ministers are performing their duties without any passion or enthusiasm for the job.   
The sources also said that Ganzoury is in constant contact with the ministers, telling them not to lose their sense of responsibility and assuring them that the previous government was testament to the hard work they put into the job.
Sources have revealed to Arabstoday that one day before going to Saudi Arabia for a diplomatic trip, President Morsi’s held a secret meeting, away from presidential staff, with five figures.  No statement was issued about the details of the meeting, but the source says that one of the figures was the vice president of the Freedom and Justice party, Essam El Erian.  
Despite a denial that the men discussed the formation of the new government, or whether the President offered El Erian a title, sources in the party believe that El Erian will be the Vice President for External affairs.
Other sources told Arabstoday that President Morsi also met with the Coptic writer Samir Morcos, who may be a candidate for Vice President.  Many believe Morcos’s inclusion is an effort to reassure Egypt’s Coptic community that he is keen to represent their voice in government.
The President also met professor of political sciences Pakinam El Sharkawy as well as Wael Khalil, member of the revolutionary socialists’ movement.  But the two men denied being candidates for any ministerial positions.  The men did reveal that the meeting was about ways in which all political parties would participate in Egypt’s new government.