The plot thickens in Egypt. Its defence minister and chief of staff, Field Marshal Mohammed Hussein Tantawi and General Sami Anan have been summarily sacked. With this drastic action, Egypt’s newly-elected President, Mohammed Mursi has added a new dimension to the Egyptian political scenario. He has proved himself to be independent of the control exercised by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces. Led by the Muslim Brotherhood, Mursi however has said that he is not targeting anybody but retiring generals. Replacements have been made in the security and bureaucratic system of the state-controlled media. The President has reinstated some prominent men of the Hosni Mubarak regime who have switched sides. The new government has to find a solid base. Hence there is the need for fresh alliances based on new-found loyalties.
Objective circumstances have helped Mursi. For instance, the militant attack on the Sinai peninsula has paved the way for the ouster of Tantawi and Anan who have been replaced by men of the Mubarak era. The latter have been inducted into the government as advisors and recipients of state honour. Some of the dismissed have refused to accept the new order. But their punishment for perpetrating violence in the Mubarak era has been made less severe. President Mursi and the Muslim Brotherhood have also struck down the Supreme Constitutional Court’s amendment. The Court may fight back as it has done in Pakistan. But the government has reduced chances of such a counter-offensive by taking some of the judiciary in important positions.
