Egypt's ruling cabinet is resigning, Prime Minister Hazem Beblawi announced Monday, in what is widely believed to be a move to clear the way for Army Field Marshal Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to run for the presidency.
"(The government) made every effort to get Egypt out of the narrow tunnel in terms of security, economic pressures and political confusion," stated el-Beblawi in a speech announcing the resignation of his cabinet.
Egyptian laws stipulate that al-Sisi, currently Egypt's defense minister, must resign his military position before officially becoming a civilian presidential candidate.
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According to Reuters, an Egyptian official stated that al-Sisi did not want to appear to be the only person tendering his resignation. "This (government resignation) was done as a step that was needed ahead of al-Sisi's announcement that he will run for president," stated the official.
The state-run news outlet MENA reports that interim President Adly Mansour has requested Beblawi stay in his current role until the resignation is accepted and a new cabinet formed.
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