Out with the old

In a seeming non sequitur after Monday's tragic events, Hesham Qandil, who served as prime minister under deposed President Mohamed Morsi, resigned from his post in protest against the fatal clashes that took place earlier today outside the Republican Guards headquarters, leaving at least 50 dead.

It was an odd twist to the latest political developments, as negotiations are already underway to form a new government after an army ultimatum forced Morsi out of office in response to the demands of millions of protesters, and appointed Adly Mansour as interim president on July 3. Mansour’s administration has been under negotiations to appoint a new prime minister for the past week.

Although Qandil’s cabinet never officially resigned, it has been rendered irrelevant since July 3.

Qandil may have seen this as an opportune time to take a stance on the volatile political situation, since any minute now his replacement will likely be announced.

In a letter published on his official Facebook page, Qandil said that he submitted his resignation to the deposed president on July 3, but remained in his position as a kind of caretaker PM until the new one is announced. He resubmitted the resignation on Monday. 

The top contender for Qandil’s job had been reform leader Mohamed ElBaradei, but his nearly assured appointment was shot down by objections from the Salafi Nour Party.

Instead, he has been nominated for vice president, with veteran economist Ziad Bahaa Eddin put forward as the likely future prime minister. Negotiations are still underway, but it seems the final decision will be made without the Nour Party, which walked away from discussions as an “initial reaction to the massacre,” the party’s spokesperson said.