Important Cabinets

(1924-1936)

 Saad Zaghloul (Jan. 1924-Nov.1924)

Zaghloul becomes Prime minister after that Wafd won 90% of the parliament seats in elections, consequently, King Fouad had no choice but to ask Zaghloul to form a new government. He did so on 27 January, and Zaghloul was named Prime Minister of . ( 1 ) The Wafd endeavored to make a deal with Britain concerning Egypt’s complete independence. As prime minister, Zaghloul carefully selected of Egyptian society for his cabinet, which he called the "People's Ministry." On 15 , King Fuad opened the first Egyptian constitutional parliament amid national rejoicing.

Achievements of Zaghloul Ministry

1. endeavored to protect the ’ interests and limit the authority of the king and the British in Egypt. 2. Released the political prisoners. 3. Insisted on approving appointed elements of the Senate by king Fouad who denounced this matter but eventually the ministry won this authority. 4. Diminished the authority of British Counselors (advisers) in Egyptian ministries 5. Egyptianized the administration in Egypt (endeavoured to replace foreign employees with Egyptian ones) 6. Achieved important targets that were decreed by 1923 Constitution concerning education (such as free obligatory primary education). 7. Negotiated the British to reduce the paid compensation to foreign employees who were replaced by Egyptian ones. 8. Objected for being the head of Egyptian army British officer.

1 ) first Egyptian Prime-Minister from rural backgrounds The Wafdist government did not last long, however, on 19 November 1924, Sir , the British General Governor of and commander of the Egyptian Army, was assassinated in . Viscount Allenby, the British High Commissioner to Egypt determined to avenge the crime and in the process humiliate the Wafd and destroy its credibility in Egypt. Allenby demanded that Egypt : 1. Apologize 2. prosecute the assailants 3. pay a £500,000 indemnity 4. withdrew all troops from Sudan 5. Consent to an unlimited increase of irrigation in Sudan and end all opposition to the capitulations (Britain's demand of the right to protect foreign interests in the country). Zaghloul wanted to resign rather than accept the ultimatum, but Allenby presented it to him before Zaghloul could offer his resignation to the king. Zaghloul and his cabinet decided to accept the first four terms but to reject the last two. On 24 November, after ordering the Ministry of Finance to pay the indemnity, Zaghloul resigned. He died three years later.

Ziwar (2) Ministry (24th Nov. 1924- 7th Jun. 1926)

Ahmed Ziwar succeeded Saad Zaghloul as prime minister following Sir Lee Stack’s assassination in November 1924.because he accepted what Saad refused of Egyptian withdrawal from Sudan for sake of Britain.

Achievements of Ziwar Cabinet

وزارة )  After 1925 elections in which Al-Wafd won Ziwar formed coalition cabinet and not only the newly elected chamber of (ائتالفية مكونة من اكثر من حزب was dissolved when it elected Zaghloul as its speaker but (مجلس النواب) deputies

2 ) Ahmed Ziwar (1864-1945)was governor of ,minister of Awkaf 1917-1919,education 1919,of communications 2919-1921,1923) foreign affairs(1924-1926)and interior 25-26 and prime minister (24-26), he was also the Senates first President under 1923 Constitution . also Ziwar ,backed by king Fouad, amended the electoral law as an attempt to keep Al-Wafd out of power.  Increased control over Egyptian Press  Passed association law to curb the parties’ political activities.  Ceded Jaghbub oasis to Italian-ruled Libya  Passed an electoral law raising the financial requirements and qualifications for both voters and candidates.  Crisis of “Islam and the Principles of Government” book (Aug. 1925) On 3 March 1924 the government of Ankara abolished the caliphate, deposed the last of the Ottoman caliphs and expelled all members of the royal family from Turkey, giving them 10 days to leave the country, depriving them of citizenship rights and confiscating their palaces ,the abolition of the caliphate had profound repercussions throughout the Islamic world. In a bid to augment his authority, King Fouad I set his sights on this high religious position. Against this backdrop appeared Islam and the Principles of Government, a book authored by Sheikh Ali Abdel-Razeq (3) of Al-Azhar University. The book was of a political nature and took a secular approach, advocating the separation of religion and state and it was full of references to King Fouad's bid for the caliphate. While it had its supporters and detractors in the end a council of senior Ulama found its author guilty. The verdict allowed King Fouad to dismiss the head of the Liberal Constitutional Party, AbdelAziz Fahmi and consequently Allouba,Tawfiq Dos and Sidky resigned so the ruling coalition dispersed and new one had to be formed. Ziwar government was Palace-dominated and repressive. Its fall was in 1926 and was ascribed to British High Commissioner (Lloyd)’intrigues.

3 ) magistrate in the religious courts" so he worked as judge in Mansoura religious court. Ismail Sidqi4 Cabinet (June 1930-September)

Before being Prime minister, and as interior minister from 1924 to 1925, Sidqi worked closely with king Fouad and founded Al-Shaab Party to support his campaign for Prime minister under the 1930 Constitution. He headed a strong Cabinet but his response to King Fouad aspirations weakened Sidqi’s image and Al-Shaab Party. He suppressed many freedoms that were granted to the Egyptians by 1923 Constitution specially the press. From June 1930 to September 1933, he ruled with an iron hand to curb the Wafd’s influence. The government put into effect the ex-ministerial decree of prohibiting students from engaging in political activity.

 On 23 October 1930, new constitution promulgated, replacing the constitution of 1922. The 1930 constitution marked the beginning of a difficult period for the enfranchisement of the Egyptian people, as it discriminated against the citizenry in electing their representatives. Article 81 stated that voters had to own a specific amount of money to vote. The king chooses and decide 3/5 of the Senate members without the cabinet approval. The budget would be passed without need to parliament approval. These and other defects fed so much discontent that the 1930 constitution was invalidated and Egypt revived the 1923 constitution ,in 1935, which remained valid with intervals until the 1952 coup d’état.  On April 1932, Cabinet moves to dismiss Taha Hussein from his position as the university's dean of the Faculty of Letters. Egyptian University Rector Ahmed Lutfi El- Sayed resigns in protest.  Court of Appeals issued ruling on the Badari case, overturning the sentences of death and life imprisonment against two villagers who had taken revenge on the Badari police chief for torturing them. Few days later, Prime minister issues statement on Badari incident. Minister of Justice Ali Maher, before parliament, alludes to differences between him and Sidqi over the issue. Sidqi resigns then forms new government that does not include Abdel-Fattah Yehya, Ali Maher and Tawfiq Doss.

4 ) (15 Feb 1875-9July 1950) Lawyer, Cabinet Minister and twice Prime Minister  Sidqi had always justified autocratic rule in terms of providing law and order. Faced withgrowing disorder, the British began to pressure for a new government to restore public confidence and curb political violence. In September 1933 the king dismissed his prime minister. Down but not out, Sidqi would remain one of Egypt’s most influential politicians until his death. King Fouad took his way for absolute rule. He repealed Sidqi's 1930 Constitution by royal decree without restoring the earlier 1923 Constitution, and he dissolved the Parliament elected in 1931 without calling for new elections. The king assumed full power over Egypt for a transition period of unspecified duration. In 1935 King admitted and activated 1923 Constitution.