Egypt's female VP: Proof that President Morsi is a real reformer?

Egypt's president-elect, Mohamed Morsi, is following through on promises to represent all Egyptians — not just Islamists — by picking a woman and a Christian as vice presidents, according to his top policy adviser, Ahmed Deif, who says that Egypt "definitely" will not be an "Islamic Republic." Morsi, who was the candidate of the Muslim Brotherhood, once supported banning women from the presidency; ahead of the vote, however, he vowed to stand up for women's rights if elected. Does Morsi really plan to realize the dreams of Egypt's pro-democracy reformers?

Morsi is delivering on his reform promises: Many skeptical Egyptians were understandably concerned that an Islamist president might lead them away from democracy, says Nada Tadros at Examiner.com. They can "breathe a sigh of relief" now. By appointing a Coptic Christian and a woman to serve as vice presidents — historic firsts — Morsi has demonstrated in just three days as president-elect that his first priority is to "reunite the Egyptian people" and deliver the reform needed to "revive Egypt."

"Mohamed Morsi begins to make a change in Egypt"

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Don't be fooled. Morsi is no moderate: Morsi is trying to mollify his critics by putting on a moderate face, Eric Trager, an analyst with the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, tells the Detroit Free Press. But make no mistake: He will rule as an Islamist. Morsi helped write the Brotherhood's 2007 platform against letting women run for president, even if he later publicly disavowed it. Don't expect an extremist like him to hand over any real power to anyone who disagrees with the "cult-like" Brotherhood.

"Egyptian president's aims unknown"

Morsi has to be inclusive, whether he wants to or not: Morsi isn't just "extending an olive branch" to women and Christians, says South Africa's Times LIVE in an editorial. He has also promised to appoint an independent as prime minister, and his inclusiveness appears to be winning over some tough critics. "The wisdom of his approach is obvious: No one political party can fix Egypt's formidable problems," and even the powerful Muslim Brotherhood can't pry power from the military's hands without help.

"Morsi's inclusive approach right step in rebuilding Egypt"