This House believes that Egypt's presidential election is no longer credible

At the New Arab Debates in Cairo on 24th April 2012, students, activists and young professionals were split 50-50 on the motion ‘This House believes that Egypt’s presidential election is no longer credible’.

Speaking for the motion, Shahira Abouelleil, Co-Founder of the ‘No Military Trials For Civilians’ campaign, urged Egyptians to boycott the election, calling it ‘sham democracy’. She said protesters should engage in civil disobedience until the Supreme Council of the Armed Force (SCAF) was removed from power.

Opposing her was Ahmed Naguib, pro-democracy activist and member of the Egyptian Current Party, who said that Egyptians should take part in the upcoming election to “de-legitimise the SCAF” and to ensure that power is handed over to an elected president.

He said local and international monitors, civil society and the media will observe the process and expose any vote rigging.

In a pre-debate poll, 51.7 percent had voted for the motion, and 48.3 percent against it. The debate reflected the political uncertainty gripping Egypt as the country braces itself for the first presidential election since Hosni Mubarak was ousted in February 2011.

Many members of the audience expressed anger at the election process; some described it as “deeply flawed”.