CAIRO — The makeup of a new Egyptian government is likely to be decided by the middle of next week, a presidential spokesman said Wednesday, a day after the new prime minister was named by President Mohamed Morsi. Irrigation and Water Resources Minister Hisham Qandil was designated as premier Tuesday but some critics questioned whether the little-known technocrat had the political or economic experience for the job. “Negotiations over the formation of the new government will end by the middle of next week,” Yasser Ali told reporters. “A statement will be issued soon or maybe tomorrow about what was achieved with regard to the formation of the presidential team,” Ali added, in reference to talks to appoint Morsi's deputies and advisers. Investors had been hoping for a premier able to tackle Egypt's urgent economic problems. The main index declined to a 1.5 percent close for the second day on investor scepticism about Qandil's political and economic experience. Morsi himself was sworn in three weeks ago. The time it had taken him to name his prime minister underlined how Egypt is struggling to turn the new political freedoms brought by the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak in a popular uprising a year and half ago into an effective government. Morsi, a Muslim Brotherhood politician and the country's first freely elected civilian president, is seeking to stamp his authority on a state where the military that assumed power from Mubarak still looms large. Highlighting the continued influence of the generals, Qandil said Morsi was in contact with them on the choice of the new defense minister, a post currently held by Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, who held the post for 20 years under Mubarak. Lawlessness, economic troubles and public frustration have been growing in Egypt for months under the country's uncertain leadership. Political fighting puts heavy limitations on the new government. The military still holds overwhelming powers, including legislative authority. Powerful security agencies are largely out of Morsi's control, even though officially they fall under his preview. Liberal parties have refused Morsi's calls to join a unity government, saying they do not want to carry out the Brotherhood's agenda and that the Brotherhood should bear responsibility for its results. — Agencies
