Surprise at the top in Cairo: "Very likely" the economist Ziad Bahaa Eldin will be nominated Egypt's new prime minister. This was announced by Ahmad al Muslimani, spokesman for the Egyptian interim presidency. The Nobel prize Mohamed ElBaradei, who until yesterday seemed destined to lead the new Executive, should instead take on the position of vice president. The final decision is expected today, the spokesman explained.
Ziad Bahaa Eldin is a prominent centre-leftist and former head of many Egyptian economic institutions. The interim head of state, Adly Mansour, said he was in favor of his appointment.
Opposite opinion instead from Salafi party at the Nour, who does not welcome Bahaa Eldin's alleged affiliation with the National Health Front, the main opposition group. "We have no personal objections against Bahaa Eldin, who is an important economic figure - said Younes Makhyoun, leader of al Nour -, but we reject his candidacy because he is part of the National Health Front".
In any case, the Salafi party has already announced its withdrawal from the negotiating table for the election of the new Egyptian prime minister "in response to the massacre in front of the headquarters of the Republican Guard".
