Unclassified emails: Muslim Brotherhood had concerns over its own member after elected president

CAIRO – 13 October 2020: On July 14, 2012, two weeks after late President Mohamed Morsi took office, Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton received an email from American Journalist Sidney Stone Blumenthal saying that the Muslim Brotherhood considered Morsi as a source of trouble.

The brotherhood had initially nominated former Deputy Supreme Guide Khairat al-Shater to run for presidency but he was rejected because he did not meet requirements. Hence, the substitute was Mohamed Morsi, who was at the time member of the Guidance Bureau. It is noted that the group formed the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) so it would take part in parliamentary elections and presidential election.

Here is an excerpt of the email:

"4. In separate conversations a particularly sensitive source stated that the SCAF officials are watching carefully as the MB works out its own power structure. In the opinion of this individual, Supreme Guide Mohammed Badie and FJP speaker of Parliament, Saad Al-Katany are growing frustrated with Morsi, whom they see as a last minute stand-in as their presidential candidate. They believe that, having won the election, Morsi is attempting to establish a position as the actual head of state and government, acting in conflict with their agreed strategy of supporting a constitutional structure that rests the powers of the government in parliament and a Prime Minister, with the President acting as a ceremonial head of state. The SCAF officers are watching the situation through their discreet sources and believe this conflict will become increasingly heated as the Constitutional Committee gets under way.

5. In addition, according to this individual, Badie is concerned over what he sees as Morsi's combative personality and his long standing personal conflicts with the leaders of the Salafist al Nour party. According to al-Katany, this relationship will remain important, even if a new parliament is elected, since the MB/FJP must depend on al Nour member of parliament to hold a three fourths majority of the seats, which will allow them to make the hard decisions that they see ahead in 2012-2013 as they organize the civilian administration.

6. In addition, according to this individual, Morsi has a problematic relationship with the leaders of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, who are longtime supporters of the Salafists, particularly al Nour. Since the revolution the Egyptian Government has run high deficits while the country's foreign exchange reserves are nearly depleted. Saudi Arabia has provided emergency loans to the country's interim military rulers but, this may end if Morsi antagonizes the Salafists. That said this individual is not convinced that Saudi assistance can stabilize Egypt even under the best of circumstances. Egypt is carrying a trade deficit of at least $3 billion a month, and with other sources of revenue reduced by the political chaos, the country's annual financial needs exceed $20 billion. Egypt is the world's largest importer of wheat and depends on imports for half its nutritional requirements. Egypt could restrict fuel imports in an attempt to curtail its trade deficit, but gasoline has been in chronic short supply for the past year. Shortages appear to be getting worse. Accordingly, given the Saudi mistrust of Morsi and certain other MB leaders, Badie will work to maintain their relationship with al Nour and the Salafists, while carrying on their dialogue with the SCAF."