Egypt’s President Mohamed Morsy retires top army leaders, amends Constitutional Declaration and appoints vice president today

Mohamed Morsy, Egypt's President

There were a few really serious decisions made by Egypt’s President Mohamed Morsy on Sunday, according to his official spokesperson Yasser Ali.

First of all Mohamed Morsy conducted the massive changes in Egypt’s top military ranks. He retired today Mohamed Hussein Tantawy, head of SCAF (Supreme Council of the Armed Forces) and Egypt’s Minister of Defense. Abdel Fatah El-Sisi, the Head of Military Intelligence, was appointed by Morsy as Egypt’s new Minister of Defense. Sami Anan, army’s Chief of Staff, was also retired today and replaced by Sedky Sobhy, the Commander of the Third Army.

The both retired generals Hussein Tantawy and Sami Anan were praised by President and awarded with the state medals. Mohamed Morsy also decided to appoint them as the president’s advisors in his presidential team.

Mohamed Hussein Tantawy, former Minister of defense
and head of SCAF retired today

Sami Anan, former army's Chief of Staff, retired today

Mohamed Morsy also retired Mohab Memish, the Commander of the Navy, and Reda Hafez, the Commander of Egypt’s Air Forces. Mohab Memish was appointed as a head of Suez Canal Authority and Reda Hafez took a post of Minister of Military Production in the new government. The member of SCAF in charge of armaments Mohamed El-Asar was appointed as assistant of Minister of Defense.

Mahmoud Mekky, judge, Egypt's vice president

Another serious decision was that Mohamed Morsy cancelled the SCAF’s Constitutional Addendum, issued by military on 17 June 2012 right before the second round of the presidential election. The Constitutional Addendum limited the powers of the future president and granted the SCAF the wide powers including the legislative power. The SCAF’s Constitutional Declaration issued on 30 March 2011 after suspending Egypt’s Constitution was also amended by Egypt’s President. The new Constitutional Declaration grants the President all the powers detailed in Article 56 of the March Constitutional Declaration. It means that the President receives the full legislative and executive authority, can sign the international treaties and set public policies in the country as well. Morsy also has a right to form the new Constituent Assembly tasked to draft the new state’s constitution, if the current Constituent Assembly will face some developments preventing it from fulfilling its tasks and carrying out its responsibilities.

Mohamed Morsy also appointed today the judge and the head of the Cassation Court Mahmoud Mekky as his vice president.

Right after the announcement of the new appointments the Egypt’s vice president Mahmoud Mekky and the new Minister of Defense Abdel Fatah El-Sisi were both sworn into office before Morsy.