Egyptian Parliament Speaker is Muslim Brotherhood Official

Egypt’s parliament has chosen a top official of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party as its Speaker.

By Chana Ya’ar

Muhammad Ali Mosque, Cairo
Flash 90

Two and a half years after U.S. President Barack Obama delivered his “Cairo address,” Egypt’s parliament chose a top official of the once-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood as its Speaker.

The new Speaker is Sa’ad el-Katatni, secretary-general of the Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party, which swept into power with 47 percent of the seats in the parliament, receiving 235 seats out of a total 498. The hardline Salafi Al Nour party is expected to receive 121 seats in the legislative body, having garnered 25 percent of the vote.

Muslim Brotherhood leader Muhammad Badi’ announced over the weekend, however, that his movement does not plan to endorse any of the Islamist candidates for president.