Analysis of Mohamed Morsi's June 29th speech

It was a success for him when it comes to delivery, tone, and content. But, many questions are still unanswered on policy level.

Morsi 's speech was warm, simple, humble, and clear to ordinary Egyptians. He reached out to people and spoke to them in a way they have not seen or heard in decades.

He knows how to speak to large audience and speaks like a campaigner and mass leader with very simple and sometime unintellectual language.

He tried to be as close to people as possible. He told people he loves them and he is one of them and his door will stay open to them all.

He also spoke about two very important concepts to Egyptians today, dignity and rights. He said he will build his relations with foreign countries based on how much their respect Egyptian's will, dignity, and rights.

His speech is clearly empowering to many ordinary Egyptians and he is now building strong bridges with people. He is working hard to gain public support and to be a popular leader. He clearly needs such support domestically and abroad.

On the policy level, situation is different. Morsi will be officially sworn in tomorrow as a president with the powers of a Prime Minister. He will be a president who has not power over his own military.

He is also a president without a prime minister, a cabinet, a well institutionalized party, an elected parliament, or a clear set of advisors.

His decision to take oath before constitutional court may create a rift within the wide political coalition that supported it him in the lections runoff.

Morsi's party said he will only take oath before elected parliament. But, he will not do that breaking another promise made by the Muslim Brotherhood and their parties.

Time will tell if Mohamed Morsi will be able to live up to his promises.

On foreign policy leave, Morsi spoke about Omar Abdel Rahman, the Salafi sheikh jailed in the US. Salafis in Egypt has been pressuring SCAF to request US to release him. Not sure if Morsi has leverage over Washington when it comes to Abdel Rahman's case and what could he do to release him.

Again, Today's speech may be a PR success for Mohamed Morsi, but it is too early to tell if it will be a policy success. 

Alaa Bayoumi