CAIRO, April 3 (UPI) -- The Muslim Brotherhood's political arm in Egypt is showing signs of losing its way in the post-revolution political climate, a critic said.
The Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party reversed course this week by nominating Khairat al-Shater as its presidential candidate for 2012. The FJP had said it wouldn't field a candidate.
Shater was well-received during his first campaign event at FJP's political office in Cairo though some leaders expressed concern about the direction of the party, Egyptian news service al-Ahram reports.
Kamal el-Helbawy, a former Muslim Brotherhood spokesman who resigned after Shater's nomination, said the FJP was "suffering from disorientation." Member Mohamed el-Beltagy said he respected the party's decisions but was warning his "colleagues to be cautious in order not to fall in any traps."
After 30 years as a leading member, the Muslim Brotherhood stripped membership from Aboul-Fotouh after he announced in June he would run for president as an independent candidate. The group denied the move was a sign of disunity, noting it's open to independent action so long as those parties are aware of the administrative consequences.
Presidential elections in Egypt are scheduled for May.
