Prime Minister Hesham Qandil said on Wednesday that if demonstrators toppled President Mohamed Morsy on 30 June, it could precipitate a political castrophe in Egypt.
If Morsy is toppled, his successor would also be toppled and the whole boat would sink, Qandil claimed.
“Change comes through elections,” the prime minister added. “Elect a new parliament to face the president if you want.”
Qandil also said the police will protect both demonstrators and public facilities on 30 June. “One of the few things the government and the people agree on is that the emergency law will never return, however easy it is to enforce it,” he said.
The prime minister said he objected to protests against newly appointed governors across Egypt.
"Although such practices are unacceptable, we will deal with the matter patiently so as not to affect stability and security,” he said.
Discussing the controversy surrounding Morsy's appointment of a Jama'a al-Islamiya member as Luxor governor, Qandil claimed he had rejected Tourism Minister Hesham Zaazou's resignation. "We are working on boosting tourism in every way," he said.
Qandil said the government will hold free and fair elections under the full supervision of the judiciary and international community in attempts to avoid violence.
Addressing the current rift with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qandil claimed Egypt is keen to resolve any obstacle that stands in the way of Gulf investment.
"[The Emirates] should not listen to unofficial remarks from the Egyptian side," he stressed, "just as we do not listen to unofficial remarks from their side."
Qandil's statement referred to controversial remarks made by Freedom and Justice Party deputy chief Essam al-Erian who on Monday criticised the alleged "unacceptable" treatment of Egyptians living in the Emirates.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
