IT has been described as a "soft coup", a "stunning operation" to purge the armed forces from the remnants of the old regime and as "an aggressive" move to end the "power paradox" between the presidency and the military. Sunday's surprise decisions by President Muhammad Mursi to retire most of the top brass in the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), in addition to nullifying a controversial constitutional addendum, had shocked Egyptians and caught Washington and Tel Aviv off guard.

But they were popular decisions as well. Most influential figures, revolutionary youth movements and political parties expressed support for Mursi's move. Thousands of people took to Al Tahrir Square to celebrate the end of 60 years of military rule in what was seen as a historic day. Others demanded that members of SCAF be put on trial. Opponents expressed fear that President Mursi, who reclaimed full executive and legislative authorities, now had more executive power than Mubarak ever did in his heydays. Others warned that the Islamists were now in full control of Egypt's destiny.

President Mursi has emerged as a clear and undisputed winner after Sunday's action. In the wake of a terrorist attack on a Sinai border post, in which 16 Egyptian soldiers were killed, the military appeared weak and in shock.

Reports that senior intelligence officers had received warnings that a terrorist attack was being planned in Sinai and failed to act upon them, had damaged the integrity of the country's once untouchable national security institutions. President Mursi saw his opportunity and moved swiftly to end an abnormal situation where he had to share power with SCAF.

Until Sunday's move, President Mursi had looked weak. He was under attack by liberals and forces loyal to the old regime that had access to influential media outlets. He was criticized for failing to attend the funeral of the dead Sinai soldiers. And while he promised swift action to reinstate authority over Sinai and punish those responsible for the terror attack, he appeared unable to exert pressure on the military.

But now he is being praised for completing the goals of the Jan. 25 revolution and for ending SCAF's role in civilian life. Some observers believe the president had struck a deal with the military and that Sunday's decisions were made after consultations with the two top men in SCAF, Field Marshall Mohammad Hussein Tantawi and Chief of Staff Gen. Sami Anan. Mursi defended his decisions saying that they were made for the benefit of all and were not directed against particular figures. Mursi also appointed Mohammad Makki, a reformist judge, as his vice president.

Those who believed that the struggle between Mursi and SCAF will go on for months, and even years, were proven wrong. As the first freely elected civilian president in Egypt's history, Mursi's fight to restore his presidential authority from an unpopular military council was backed by most Egyptians, even those who are critical of the Muslim Brotherhood and its appetite for power.

But now and in the absence of Parliament, which was dissolved by courts, and as Egypt awaits a new constitution, Mursi has few opponents left on the political stage. He has already formed a government that is headed by a loyal Islamist. His next moves will be watched keenly both inside Egypt and outside. With a new team heading the military, a recipient of $1.3 billion in annual US aid, Washington will have to go through Mursi to sort out bilateral relations. Israel will be watching nervously as the Egyptian Army carries out a large-scale military operation in Sinai close to its borders.

All eyes will be focused on the Constitutional Assembly which is drafting a new constitution for Egypt. Under a new Constitutional Declaration, President Mursi now has the authority to form a new assembly if the present one fails in its duty.

And then there is the pressing issue of holding elections to elect a new lower house of Parliament. The dissolved Parliament was largely controlled by the Islamists. With many Egyptians expressing their disappointment with the Muslim Brotherhood the results of the future elections will be important to watch.

Popular backing for the president may not last for long. Egypt is facing unprecedented economic pressure. Power cuts have become endemic and public services are crumbling. Egyptians want jobs and security. With the president fully in charge they have only one person to blame if they fail to get both.

— Osama Al Sharif is a journalist and political commentator based in Amman.