Egypt’s new President Abdel-Fattah al- Sisi has re-assigned Ibrahim Mahlab as Prime Minister, and asked him to form a new cabinet. The constitution gives the president the right to name the prime minister, but the parliament has the chance to support or veto the nomination. Apart from that, al-Sisi faces many other challenges. One of them is the President’s powers that were reduced in the new constitution. Any changes to the constitution must be approved by parliament which has not yet been formed.
As he begins his first day in office, Abdel Fattah Al Sisi knows the powers of the president have been reduced in favour of parliament. His predecessor Mohamed Morsi, with the absence of parliament, changed the constitution to give himself more powers. Al Sisi denied he will take the same path.
One power given to parliament by the 2014 constitution is the approval of the appointment of Prime minister and government. This is the first decision Sisi must deal with.
The new president is required to address thorny issues such as security and the economic crisis. Al Sisi said he won’t wait for an elected parliament before moving forward.
In his inauguration speech Al Sisi promised to improve security and economic conditions right away. But he can’t issue laws without parliament’s approval.
One of the reasons many Egyptians turned against Morsi in 2013 was because he unilaterally changed the constitution. Sisi has public support now, but this could be tested if he tried to do the same.