Prime Minister of Egypt
The
Prime Minister of Egypt (
Arabic: رئيس الوزراء المصرى , رئيس الحكومة) is the head of the Egyptian government. According to the constitution, the prime minister is the leader of the largest political party in the egyptian parliament.
In the late 1970s, Egypt had several cohabitation governments which proved to be unstable, due to the struggle arising between the
President and the Prime Minister. However, since
1981, the National Democratic Party has maintained a majority in the
People's Assembly and supplied the Egyptian President.
By convention, the
President controls foreign-affairs and defence related issues of the state, while the Prime Minister manages the day-to-day affairs including the economy.
The Prime Minister, heads the
government who has a leading role in shaping the agenda of the houses of
Parliament. It may propose laws to
Parliament, as well as amendments during parliamentary meetings.
Under the system created by the 1980 constitutional amendments, the
President is the pre-eminent executive figure, who names the Prime Minister.
When the
President's political party or supporters control
Parliament, the
President is in effect the ‘dominant' player in executive action, choosing whoever he wishes for government, and having it follow ‘his' political agenda.
However, when the
President's political opponents control parliament, the
President's dominance can be severely limited, as he must choose a prime minister and cabinet reflecting the majority in
Parliament.
When parties from opposite ends of the political spectrum control
Parliament and the
presidency, the power-sharing arrangement is known as cohabitation. Several cohabitation governments took control in the 1970s, yet proved to be very unstable.
Main article: List of Prime Ministers of Egypt
In
2004, Dr.
Ahmed Nazif was sworn into office as prime minister; he has since formed two cabinets, in
2004 and
January 2005.
*
List of Prime Ministers of Egypt*
Politics of Egypt*
Cabinet of Egypt*
President of Egypt*
List of political parties in Egypt
