Hussein el-Shafei
Vice President of Egypt (1961–1965; 1968–1975)
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Early life and education
Born in Tanta in 1918, el-Shafei graduated from the Egyptian Military Academy in 1938.
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Career
El-Shafei was appointed minister of war in 1954 and served as Egypt's minister of labor and social affairs during Egypt's merger with Syria. He served as vice-president under Gamal Abdel Nasser in 1961.
During his tenure as minister of social affairs, el-Shafei introduced social insurance reforms considered radical at the time, including pensions to widows. His Winter Charity campaign provided Egypt's poor with basic necessities. Some Egyptian celebrities took part in the "mercy trains" which delivered the goods, including actress Faten Hamama.
Anwar Sadat appointed el-Shafei as vice-president of Egypt's new government in 1971 and he was succeeded by Hosni Mubarak in April 1975.
Death
El-Shafei died on 18 November 2005. Mubarak was among the senior officials at el-Shafei's state funeral.
Honours
- Egypt: Grand Cordon of the Order of the Nile
Foreign honours
- Poland: Grand Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (1965)
- Malaysia: Honorary Grand Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (1965)