Morsi still takes advice from FJP, says presidential advisor

President Morsi consults Freedom and Justice Party before making decisions despite stepping down as party leader after election victory, advisor claims

President Mohamed Morsi consults members of the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) in addition to his advisory team before making decisions, presidential advisor Ayman Al-Sayyad has said.
Speaking on the Al-Arabeya satellite channel on Wednesday, Al-Sayyad said he remained unsure about the exact nature of Morsi's relationship with the FJP, which he led until he became president in June.
Morsi vowed to step down as FJP leader, and not act in the narrow interest of the party, in order to gain the support of various political groups in the presidential election runoff against former regime figure Ahmed Shafiq.
Al-Sayyad said Morsi's continued relationship with the party was not a problem and was in line with democratic principles.
"There is no difference politically between the Brotherhood and its political arm, the FJP, despite the legal division of the two entities," Al-Sayyad added.
Al-Sayyad said that as advisor he gives his opinion to the president but the president alone is responsible for the decisions he takes.
He added that he refused the role of Minister of Information because he did not want to curtail his independent decision making.