Mubarak's cabinet shuffle concerns opposition

President Hosni Mubarak’s recent, minor cabinet shuffle has surprised political commentators and made opposition groups suspicious.

With the fourth annual conference of the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) less than three weeks away, political commentators predicted a major overhaul of the cabinet. Instead, the shuffle seemed to be more in response to the recent train crashes, as it mainly affected ministries providing public services.

Opposition groups believe that former justice minister, Mahmoud Abul-Leil, was replaced because of his failure to contain the crisis between the government and the Judges’ Club, which is demanding judicial reforms. Mamdouh Marie, who is the former chairman of the Supreme Constitutional Court (SCC), is his replacement and is expected to adopt a more aggressive attitude towards the Judges’ Club.

According to Diaaeddin Dawoud, chairman of the Arab Nasserist Party, Marie’s main job “will be to tailor forthcoming constitutional amendments in a way that ensures the regime remains unchallenged.

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