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Egypt appoints 9 ministers in limited reshuffle

Mohammed Morsi’s office spoke of injecting new blood.Maya Alleruzzo/AP/File 2012

CAIRO — Nine new Egyptian ministers joined President Mohammed Morsi’s Cabinet on Tuesday, including three members of his Muslim Brotherhood, in a reshuffle that officials said was aimed at addressing the country’s financial woes and securing a much-needed international loan.

Morsi supporters say he wants to reach out to other political blocs, yet the Cabinet reshuffle is unlikely to ease Egypt’s political polarization. The opposition complained that they were not consulted on the appointments, which they said will only further the “Brotherhood-ization” of Morsi’s government. Two of the nine new ministers hail from the Brotherhood political party.

The latest reshuffle — the second since Morsi took office last June — increases to 11 the number of Brotherhood members in key posts in the 36-seat Cabinet. The previous reshuffle in January nearly doubled the number of Brotherhood members from five to eight. The Cabinet also includes Islamists and allies of the Brotherhood.

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Morsi’s office said the Cabinet changes were made to “inject new blood,” when economic performance and ­security are a priority.

Associated Press