Prime Minister Essam Sharaf said on Tuesday that the current members of his cabinet will continue their work until its new members are sworn in. According to Al-Ahram, Sharaf instructed all ministries to continue working until the new ministers take their oaths of office. Sharaf left Dar al-FouadHospital late on Monday after suffering from exhaustion and low blood pressure. Rumors began circulating that Sharaf had resigned, however, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Finance Hazem al-Beblawy told Al-Masry Al-Youm that Sharaf is remaining in his position. Meanwhile, Ahmed Fekry Abdel Wahab, a businessman who was nominated to head the trade ministry, said he has declined his nomination. In a statement to Al-Masry Al-Youm on Tuesday, Abdel Wahab claimed there is popular pressure against the appointment of businessmen to ministerial positions. Economic experts and activists have called to limit the appointments of businessmen to ministerial posts. Abdel Wahab said his decision was meant to save Sharaf the embarrassment of withdrawing his nomination, especially after being admitted to the hospital. “I did not want to be another source of pressure on Sharaf.” The government of former Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif, which included several businessmen, had fueled the anger of the public. Some of those former ministers are currently in prison over charges of corruption.
