Securing an overwhelming victory in Egypt’s parliamentary elections the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party will with a doubt play a strong role in charting the course of Egypt’s future. But despite its strong mandate, and its traditional religious orientation, Egypt’s new power-broker will find that political moderation may be the lesser of two evils.

Securing an overwhelming victory in Egypt’s recent parliamentary elections, the first genuine elections since 1952, the Muslim Brotherhoodhas attested to its long-standing reputationas the largest, best-organized, and most disciplined movement in Egypt. With a clear mandate from voters, the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) will without a doubt seek a strong role in Egypt’s legislative bodies. What is less clear is what the consequences of this new political reality will be. The Muslim Brotherhood has never held political power in its long history. Moreover, being banned under the former regime, the organisation has spent most of the last decades underground. To what end will and can the Muslim Brotherhood use its newly gained political power? Read More