Egyptian president appoints Hesham Qandil as PM

CAIRO - Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi appointed Irrigation Minister Hesham Qandil as the new prime minister on Tuesday.

Morsi assigned Qandil to form a new cabinet as soon as possible, acting spokesman of the presidency Yasser Ali was quoted by official MENA news agency as saying.

Morsi is set to hold a meeting with Qandil later on Tuesday, said Ali, describing Qandil as the best one to fit the position for he is a prominent independent national figure who has never been a member of any party before or after the demonstration last year.

According to Ali, Qandil will consult with the president over all his choices, assuring that all national powers will be represented in Qandil's government.

During a press conference held Tuesday afternoon in the presidential palace, Qandil promised that he will form a technocrat government.

Efficiency and good qualities will be the main criteria for choosing members of his government, MENA quoted Qandil as saying.

The top priorities of his new cabinet in the coming period would be to fulfill the targets of last year's demonstration, meet the people's demands and implement Morsi's program, he asserted.

He admitted that Egypt is facing many challenges in the economic, environmental and social domains, vowing to continue efforts made by the two previous governments led by Essam Sharaf and Kamal el-Ganzouri.

Meanwhile, Qandil noted in his speech that there is no room for corruption or negligence in his government, calling all Egyptians to work on preserving their motherland.

He further urged all national powers to work together in the coming stage, thanking Sharaf and Ganzouri for their efforts over the past period.

Qandil was named as irrigation and water resources minister last July in a cabinet reshuffle by then-Prime Minister Sharaf, who resigned in late November 2011.

Born in 1962, Qandil graduated from the Faculty of Engineering of Cairo University in 1984, and obtained a doctor's degree in the Faculty of Irrigation and Drainage of North Carolina University in 1993.

Qandil joined the National Council for Water Researches and gained professorship in 2002, and worked as the director of the irrigation and water resources minister's office from 1999 to 2005.

He also served as the head of the Nile sector in the African Development Bank.

Qandil's appointment came just one month after Morsi was declared winner of the presidency.

Egypt held its historic presidential election in May and June, with Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood's candidate, winning the election. Morsi was sworn in at the end of June.