Morsi’s thoughts from prison

In a recording leaked to privately owned daily Al-Watan, Egyptians got a small taste of what their most-recently deposed president thinks about the future of the protest movement and Sisi’s presidency.

The conversation is a recording between former President Mohamed Morsi and his lawyer, another former presidential candidate Mohamed Selim al-Awa, who is one of Morsi’s windows into the happenings in Egypt outside Borg al-Arab Prison near Alexandria.

“Everyone is busy with the new elections,” Awa tells Morsi. “Photos have filled the streets, and protesters are in every city and village… but it is without results. People need to get together to negotiate. Dr. Mohamed, there’s no point.”

Morsi seems to also be interested, or convinced of a coup against Defense Minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who is generally believed to be preparing to run for president.

“So he really wants to be president?” Morsi asks. Awa’s answer is blunt.

“He will be the president, God willing.”

“Will he leave the army? Isn’t he afraid of a coup?” Morsi asks. He and Awa are in the midst of a discussion about the meaning of Sisi’s promotion, which also touches on the relationship between previous presidents and the military. “He who overthrows, will be overthrown, don’t you remember?”