2nd LD-Writethru: Egypt's parliament to discuss Sisi's request of cabinet reshuffle

CAIRO, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Egyptian parliament will hold an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi's request of a cabinet reshuffle, official MENA news agency reported on Saturday.

The emergency session will be held amid speculations about a possible retirement of Prime Minister Sherif Ismail over health problems.

Ismail made a medical trip to Germany in late November 2017, assigning Housing Minister Mostafa Madbouli as acting premier until his return.

Ismail came back to Egypt last December, yet he did not resume his post.

Article 147 of the Egyptian constitution states that "the President may conduct a cabinet reshuffle after consultation with the Prime Minister and approval of the House of Representatives by an absolute majority of the members present..."

Ismail served as oil minister in the new government formed following the ouster of former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013, until he proved efficient and was appointed by President Sisi as prime minister in mid-September 2015.

The imminent cabinet reshuffle is expected to be limited and to involve a couple of other ministers. Enditem