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| Egyptian presidential election TV debate – live blog | Egyptian presidential election TV debate – live blog |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| 3.54pm ET/8.54pm BST: The rebuttal phase, which means that the candidate can either ask the other a question and expect a response, or comment on what the other candidate has already said. | |
| Moussa comes out swinging and says that Abul-Futouh led a march to Abbaseya before the clashes and then later said it was an inappropriate protest. Why the contradiction and the lead to chaos? | |
| Abul-Futoh responds that what Moussa is saying is incorrect. He says he participated in solidarity with those who were killed irrespective of who they were. Where was the state to protect them? The protests were peaceful, he said, though they did block traffic. | |
| This time using the example of Occupy Wall Street, he says that police managed to disperse the protest without killing anyone. "I don't see in my position any contradiction ... How long will we describe those who are expressing themselves peacefully as instigators of chaos?" | |
| 3.50pm ET/8:50pm BST: Following question is about sector protests and how to handle them. | |
| Moussa: The state wasn't a bastion that protected citizens and many sectors feel injustice, so the state must be ready from now to fix these issues with transparency. Steps must be taken to ease the living conditions of people. I agree with the justice of these demands and the state must engage them. We should ignore it but we must be transparent in the fact that we can address concerns in a gradual manner. The current protests is because there is a feeling of failure of the state. | |
| Abul-Futouh: I don't see that under a fairly elected president I don't think protests will increase because there will be a leader who will address these concerns, not a head of a failed state that cannot provide for citizens like the previous regime. I caution Egyptians that what is happening now is not because of the revolution, but because of a corrupt regime that ruled for thirty years. When Egyptians find their president is honest and trustworthy, they will help him solve the country's problems. | |
| 3.45pm ET/8.45pm BST: Next question is: If you were president during the Abbaseya clashes last week, what would you have done? | |
| Moussa: I didn't wait to be president. I made many calls to the government and political powers. It was important that the police intervene and stop the bloodshed. The Abbaseya clashes were exploited by some for their own ends. What happened in Abbaseya shouldn't have happened, especially as we are so close to the transfer of power. We need security and unity, not chaos and slogans and grandstanding. | |
| Abul-Futouh: I don't think if I was president that this would have happened anyways. The Abbaseya events was mismanaged by many powers. Peaceful demonstrations are a right gained by the revolution. In the past, peaceful expression wasn't even permitted. When people protest, the state should protect them. As to letting them kill each other that is the responsibility of the current authority in power, whomever it may be. Also, you cannot attack state institutions nor hold up traffic. It doesn't matter if they are thugs or revolutionaries, police must protect them. He mentions that British police protected looters during the London riots. | |
| 3.39pm ET/8.39pm BST: Abul-Futouh begins with the opening statement. He iterates that without the blood of the martyrs (many of which he names) they wouldn't be here today. He adds that the Egyptian state that he wishes to see is a democratic independent state that elevates Sharia law where citizens will have jobs and their dignity. | |
| Abul-Futouh ends his opening statement with the Tahrir slogan "Bread, Freedom, Social Justice." | |
| Moussa is next. He says that he wants a state that is progressing towards development and serving the needs of the citizen, a state with a strong constitution that respects its citizens and is far from the oppression of the previous regime. | |
| Moussa mentions article 2 of the constitution which states that Islamic Sharia is the basis of legislation but that citizens of other religions follow their own beliefs. | |
| 3.28pm ET/8.28pm BST: And the candidates come on the set, stage-right and stage-left. They shake hands then they shake the presenters' hands. | |
| Abul-Futouh is a good foot taller than everybody else. And ever so quickly we cut to a graphic of each candidate's history. | |
| 3.23pm ET/8.23pm BST: The nerves they are a-jangling. The ominous background gameshow music is helping. | |
| 3.21pm ET/8.21pm BST: And we're off, finally, after the longest ad break this side of the revolution. | |
| Mona el-Shazly and Yosri Fouda are waxing lyrical with much poeticism that tonight's debate would not have happened if not for the revolution. | |
| Yosri Fouda echoes calls that this was thanks to the blood of the martyrs, which is interesting as people were critcizing the debate for that very reason. | |
| Now a montage of the 25 January martyrs over a stirring piano ballad. | |
| 3.06pm ET/8.06pm BST: Still the interminable ad break rolls on. Abul-Futouh is apparently praying the Aisha (Evening) prayer and then it should start. | 3.06pm ET/8.06pm BST: Still the interminable ad break rolls on. Abul-Futouh is apparently praying the Aisha (Evening) prayer and then it should start. |
| 2.54pm ET/7.54pm BST: A picture of Abul-Futouh prepping before the debate begins: | 2.54pm ET/7.54pm BST: A picture of Abul-Futouh prepping before the debate begins: |
| صورة من كواليس #المناظرة :عبد المنعم #أبوالفتوح وفريقه قبل بدء المناظرة twitter.com/AlMasryAlYoum_… | صورة من كواليس #المناظرة :عبد المنعم #أبوالفتوح وفريقه قبل بدء المناظرة twitter.com/AlMasryAlYoum_… |
| 2.45pm ET/7.45pm BST: Time to try and get slightly serious, as debate will begin after the ad break. | 2.45pm ET/7.45pm BST: Time to try and get slightly serious, as debate will begin after the ad break. |
| 2.40pm ET/7.40pm BST: Let the surrealism continue, as presenters discuss Sarah Palin and her debate with Joe Biden in 2008, excerpts from Saturday Night Live are aired with Tina Fey. | 2.40pm ET/7.40pm BST: Let the surrealism continue, as presenters discuss Sarah Palin and her debate with Joe Biden in 2008, excerpts from Saturday Night Live are aired with Tina Fey. |
| 2.32pm ET/7.32pm BST: We're twenty minutes away now and Abul-Futoh seems to have arrived. | 2.32pm ET/7.32pm BST: We're twenty minutes away now and Abul-Futoh seems to have arrived. |
| The debate itself will be moderated by Yosri Fouda of ONTV and Mona Al-Shazly of Dream TV. | |
| Khafaga talks now about how under the Mubarak regime, conducting political polls needed a permit from the notorious state security apparatus and could get you arrested. | Khafaga talks now about how under the Mubarak regime, conducting political polls needed a permit from the notorious state security apparatus and could get you arrested. |
| You could however conduct polls on potatoes, Khafaga says. | You could however conduct polls on potatoes, Khafaga says. |
| 2.31pm ET/7.31pm BST: Looks like the claim that this is the first Arab presidential debate won't go undisputed: | 2.31pm ET/7.31pm BST: Looks like the claim that this is the first Arab presidential debate won't go undisputed: |
| Fact: This is the first presidential debate in #Egypt but not the first in the #Arab world. The first was in Mauritania in 2007. #monazarat | Fact: This is the first presidential debate in #Egypt but not the first in the #Arab world. The first was in Mauritania in 2007. #monazarat |
| Still expecting that odd commentator saying that presidential debates were invented by the Pharaohs. #Monazarat | Still expecting that odd commentator saying that presidential debates were invented by the Pharaohs. #Monazarat |
| 2.18pm ET/7.18pm BST: CNN senior international correspondent Ben Wedeman isn't suprised by Cairo's notorious traffic: | 2.18pm ET/7.18pm BST: CNN senior international correspondent Ben Wedeman isn't suprised by Cairo's notorious traffic: |
| Aboulfotouh arrival at debate delayed by #cairotraffic? No matter who is running, #cairotraffic always wins. #monazarat #Egypt | Aboulfotouh arrival at debate delayed by #cairotraffic? No matter who is running, #cairotraffic always wins. #monazarat #Egypt |
| 2.16pm ET/7:16pm BST: Abdel-Moneim Abul-Futouh's media advisor tweeted: | 2.16pm ET/7:16pm BST: Abdel-Moneim Abul-Futouh's media advisor tweeted: |
| Finally clear road... We are hitting the gas pedal to the ground ! #Monazarat | Finally clear road... We are hitting the gas pedal to the ground ! #Monazarat |
2.14pm ET/7.14pm BST: Excerpts aired of the first televised presidential debates between Kennedy and Nixon in 1960. Kennedy speaks and Nixon has no comment to make. | 2.14pm ET/7.14pm BST: Excerpts aired of the first televised presidential debates between Kennedy and Nixon in 1960. Kennedy speaks and Nixon has no comment to make. |
| The actual debate will be slightly delayed because Abdel-Moneim Abul-Futouh is stuck in traffic, a perfectly plausible excuse in Cairo. | The actual debate will be slightly delayed because Abdel-Moneim Abul-Futouh is stuck in traffic, a perfectly plausible excuse in Cairo. |
| 2.06pm ET/7.06pm BST: Managing editor of Egypt Independent Lina Attalah tweeted: | 2.06pm ET/7.06pm BST: Managing editor of Egypt Independent Lina Attalah tweeted: |
| Bit of cynicism while TV is on. This debate hype is so unauthentic. Why r we so excited about having theatrics lead to political choices? | Bit of cynicism while TV is on. This debate hype is so unauthentic. Why r we so excited about having theatrics lead to political choices? |
2.03pm ET/6.03pm BST: Now footage of Amr in the draw. The draw also included whose name is to be announced first, and from which side each candidate will enter the debate. | 2.03pm ET/6.03pm BST: Now footage of Amr in the draw. The draw also included whose name is to be announced first, and from which side each candidate will enter the debate. |
| 2.01pm ET/7.01pm BST: Two senior pollsters were interviewed to explain the process behind their results that show Moussa and Abul Futoh are the frontrunners. | 2.01pm ET/7.01pm BST: Two senior pollsters were interviewed to explain the process behind their results that show Moussa and Abul Futoh are the frontrunners. |
| Now Amr Khafaga expounds on the rules of the debate. Khafaga says their is no precedent for such an event in Egypt so they've borrowed the debate rules from the US, Egyptianizing it a bit. Each candidate will have a two-minute introduction, then will have two minutes to respond to the 24 questions from the panel. The candidates will also have the right to rebuttal on the other's comments every three questions in one minute, in which the other will have two minutes to respond. At the end of each of the two phases, candidates may ask each other one question. Each candidate will have two minutes at the end for closing remarks. | Now Amr Khafaga expounds on the rules of the debate. Khafaga says their is no precedent for such an event in Egypt so they've borrowed the debate rules from the US, Egyptianizing it a bit. Each candidate will have a two-minute introduction, then will have two minutes to respond to the 24 questions from the panel. The candidates will also have the right to rebuttal on the other's comments every three questions in one minute, in which the other will have two minutes to respond. At the end of each of the two phases, candidates may ask each other one question. Each candidate will have two minutes at the end for closing remarks. |
| The order of who goes first was decided by a draw, done before the show started, with the slips picked out by a small boy called Amr. | The order of who goes first was decided by a draw, done before the show started, with the slips picked out by a small boy called Amr. |
| 1.47pm ET/6.47pm BST: Khafaga explaining why only those two candidates are in tonight's debate. His reasoning is that they are the two who are ahead in all the pre-election polls. | 1.47pm ET/6.47pm BST: Khafaga explaining why only those two candidates are in tonight's debate. His reasoning is that they are the two who are ahead in all the pre-election polls. |
| There were criticisms earlier today from the campaign of candidate Hamdein Sabahy regarding the debates, because there was a lot of speculation that certain candidates refused to appear with others, in this case candidate Ahmed Shafik had reservations about appearing with Sabahy. | There were criticisms earlier today from the campaign of candidate Hamdein Sabahy regarding the debates, because there was a lot of speculation that certain candidates refused to appear with others, in this case candidate Ahmed Shafik had reservations about appearing with Sabahy. |
| This might be because Sabahy was a staunch supporter of the revolution and Shafik was the Mubarak-appointed Prime Minister at the time. Would have been fun to watch that. | This might be because Sabahy was a staunch supporter of the revolution and Shafik was the Mubarak-appointed Prime Minister at the time. Would have been fun to watch that. |
| 1.41pm ET/6.41pm BST: The presenters have appeared at the debate, reports Abdel-Rahman Hussein: | 1.41pm ET/6.41pm BST: The presenters have appeared at the debate, reports Abdel-Rahman Hussein: |
| We have Reem Maguid and Yosri Fouda from ONTV, Hafez Mirazi from Dream TV and Amr Khafaga, editor-in-chief of Al-Shurouk newspaper. Also in attendance is MP and member of the board of Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper, Amr Al-Shobaki. Each one is currently giving a short introduction. The debate itself is about 40 minutes away. Mirazi says that the two candidates in today's debate are the frontrunners according to the polls. | |
| 1.09pm ET/6.09pm BST: Abdel-Rahman Hussein in Cairo will be sending in live updates from Egypt. | 1.09pm ET/6.09pm BST: Abdel-Rahman Hussein in Cairo will be sending in live updates from Egypt. |
| My friends are coming over to watch the presidential debate at my house.. we used to gather 2 watch Football games! How life has changed =) | My friends are coming over to watch the presidential debate at my house.. we used to gather 2 watch Football games! How life has changed =) |
| Voters are taking to Twitter to express their excitement for the debate. | Voters are taking to Twitter to express their excitement for the debate. |
| 1pm ET/6pm BST: Tonight is a key moment for Egypt and Egyptian television. It's the country's first-ever presidential election TV debate. | 1pm ET/6pm BST: Tonight is a key moment for Egypt and Egyptian television. It's the country's first-ever presidential election TV debate. |
| The protagonists are front-running candidates Amr Moussa (former foreign minister and former head of the Arab League) and Abdel Moneim Abul Fotouh (formerly of the Muslim Brotherhood) and two high-profile TV figures will be posing the questions: chat show host Mona el-Shazly and former al-Jazeera journalist Yosri Fouda. | |
| There are hopes that the debate will break new ground in Arab election coverage, with some challenging questions and serious discussion of the issues, rather than the old-style obsequiousness. | There are hopes that the debate will break new ground in Arab election coverage, with some challenging questions and serious discussion of the issues, rather than the old-style obsequiousness. |
| The format is that each candidate will be given two minutes to answer each question and will then be allowed to comment on each other's responses. Each candidate can also ask their opponent one question at the end of each half of the debate. | The format is that each candidate will be given two minutes to answer each question and will then be allowed to comment on each other's responses. Each candidate can also ask their opponent one question at the end of each half of the debate. |
| The first half will focus on questions about the constitution and presidential powers, while the second half will deal with the candidates' electoral platforms, the judiciary, security and other topics. | The first half will focus on questions about the constitution and presidential powers, while the second half will deal with the candidates' electoral platforms, the judiciary, security and other topics. |
| The debate is being broadcast by two privately-owned channels, ONTV and Dream, in cooperation with two privately-owned newspapers, Al-Masry Al-Youm and Al-Shorouk. | The debate is being broadcast by two privately-owned channels, ONTV and Dream, in cooperation with two privately-owned newspapers, Al-Masry Al-Youm and Al-Shorouk. |