Arab world’s first presidential debate held in Egypt

A former foreign minister and a moderate Islamist heavily go head-to-head as two election front-runners, during the first ever presidential debate in the Arab world.

Insults were traded over the role of religion and methods to bring democratic change to Egypt in attempts to taint the reputation of the competition.

Television sets in outdoor cafes saw crowds of Egyptians gather to watch the four-hour combative debate which was aired on several independent television channels.

Amr Moussa, who served as Mubarak’s foreign minister for 10 years until becoming head of the Arab League in 2001, debated against Abdel-Moneim Abolfotoh in the deliberation which ran past midnight.

Abolfotoh is a moderate Islamist who split with the Muslim Brotherhood in 2011.

He and Moussa are one of 13 candidates competing in the elections due to being on 23 May.

This was the first debate of its kind in Egypt after being under President Hosni Mubarak’s authoritarian rule for nearly 30 years.

Being re-elected in all previous referendums for which Mubarak was the only candidate, the 2005 presidential elections was the first to allow multiple candidates.

However, Mubarak was considered the winner and did not campaign strongly. Direct debates were inconceivable.