Demonstrators in Cairo's Tahrir Square criticized the cabinet reshuffle recently announced by Prime Minister Essam Sharaf, pointing out that several ministers associated with the deposed Mubarak regime, particularly the interior and justice ministers, remain in place.
They also criticized the fact that the public prosecutor and president of the Central Auditing Agency remained in their posts, saying that the two were some of the greatest beneficiaries of Mubarak-era corruption.
Two ministers associated with Mubarak’s former government, such as Minister of Antiquities Zawi Hawass and Minister of Military Production Sayed Meshaal, were replaced. Yet these changes did not seem to be enough. Among those whose terms the protesters still hoped to end were Minister of Electricity and Energy Hassan Younis, Minister of Environment Maged George, and Minister of International Cooperation Fayza Abouelnaga.
Some protesters wondered if the three ministers remained in place over Sharaf's wishes, speculating that the ruling military council may have intervened on their behalves. Alternatively, some wondered if Sharaf was simply no longer interested in fulfilling the demands of the revolution.
Several political movements, including the April 6 Youth Movement, opposed the appointment of Ali al-Selmi as deputy prime minister, as he was known for cutting deals with the former Mubarak government.
A march leaving from Tahrir Square at noon Monday headed toward the Supreme Constitutional Court building to demand resignations from the public prosecutor and interior minister, as well as a purge of the judiciary. They chanted, “The people want the judiciary to be purged,” and, “The public prosecutor’s resignation is the people’s demand.”
Translated from the Arabic Edition
