The vice-chairman of the Freedom and Justice Party and head of the party’s committee in the Shura Council Essam El-Erian resigned as adviser to President Mohamed Morsy on Sunday night.
Presidential spokesperson Yasser Ali said the presidency has accepted El-Erian’s resignation. El-Erian released a statement on Sunday night stating that he had reached an agreement with the presidency to be relieved of his duties as adviser.
El-Erian said the reason was because he is very busy with his tasks as head of the Freedom and Justice Party’s committee in the Shura Council, the upper house of parliament. El-Erian added that there is a conflict of interest in him combining the two posts because one of them falls under the legislative authority while the other falls under the executive authority.
“I hope that the president understands and responds to my request because I insist on it,” he ended his statement.
In August 2012 Morsy appointed a presidential team made up of four assistants and an advisory council. El-Erian was appointed as one of the members of the advisory council. He was again appointed to the Shura Council when Morsy appointed 90 members to the legislative body last December. El-Erian is also a member of the Shura (Consultative) Council of the Muslim Brotherhood. The Freedom and Justice Party is the political arm of the Brotherhood.
El-Erian has been the centre of a controversy after he made a statement on Jews of Egyptian origin living in Israel. He called on them to return to clear the way for the return of Palestinian refugees to their homeland.
The presidency distanced itself from the statement, saying they did not represent the presidency and nor was it responsible for them. El-Erian also said the statement expressed his personal views.
At least two complaints were filed against El-Erian because of the statement.
