The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) issued on Sunday a declaration appointing Minister of State for Local Development Mohamed Attiya the new minister for parliament. It was unclear if the decision means Attiya will continue his duties as minister of state for local development in addition to the new position or if a new minister of state for local development will be appointed. In a press statement issued on 5 December before the announcing the formation of his official cabinet on 7 December, Kamal al-Ganzouri said his cabinet would not be involved in parliamentary affairs. The SCAF's decision to appoint a new minister in Ganzouri's cabinet contradicts with a decree issued on 7 December granting presidential powers to Ganzouri. The SCAF decree amended paragraph 10 of Article 56 of the Constitutional Declaration to allow some of the SCAF's presidential powers to be delegated to the prime minister. As such, Ganzouri would enjoy all presidential powers except concerning the armed forces and the judicial system. Paragraph 10 of Article 56 of the Constitutional Declaration states that the SCAF will be responsible for “appointing the prime minister and his deputies and the cabinet ministers and their deputies as well as relieving them from their posts." The delegation of these powers to Ganzouri came after months of criticism of the SCAF. Translated from Al-Masry Al-Youm
