The president's office has assigned Ahmed Abdel Aziz, an official in charge of the Maspero dossier, to monitor the news content disseminated by state-run TV, ensuring that the president’s achievements over the past year are made clear, a source from Egyptian Radio and TV said.
Abdel Aziz was appointed on Saturday and his mission will end on 10 July. Mass protests by the opposition are scheduled for 30 June.
Opposition groups are planning mass protests on the first anniversary of President Mohamed Morsy’s election to call for his ouster from power and early presidential elections.
Abdel Aziz alone will control the type of guests who will appear on shows and the news, the source said, adding that he has given clear instructions to his subordinates not to host any opposition figures over the coming period.
Abdel Aziz is closely following the shows and news bulletins on state-run Radio Masr and the shows on state-run television channels.
The source also said Abdel Aziz is preparing a talk show that will invite governors, ministers, presidential advisers, and members of the Islamist current to emphasize the president’s accomplishments over the past year.
Abdel Aziz refused to broadcast footage of opposition demonstrations staged in Gharbiya or in front of the Defense Ministry and gave orders to focus on the mass protests in Nasr City which supported the president, the source said.
It also said that employees were threatened with suspension if they did not obey Abdel Aziz’s orders. “If you do not like the orders, go on vacation or ask to be transferred somewhere else,” the source cited him as saying.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
