A step towards democracy in Egypt?

Egypt's recent presidential debate, reportedly the first in Arab history, represents an important milestone for the region. In just minutes, the centuries-old image of a distant, infallible dictator as head of state was erased. Two candidates - former foreign minister and secretary-general of the Arab League Amr Moussa and former Muslim Brotherhood leader Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh - were brought face-to-face to answer set questions and rebut each other's criticisms. For the first time, potential Arab leaders were forced to defend themselves in front of a people who can now hold them accountable for their words.
As the moderators opened the debate, they emphasised that the Egyptian citizen is to be the ultimate judge - and that their choice will be made on election day. The remarkable shift in dynamics between ruler and ruled, one unimaginable a little more than a year ago, is testament to the achievements of the popular revolution that shook the region.
The debate and the circumstances under which it took place, however, are far from ideal. Critics question the unexplained reasoning behind the choice of the two candidates and suggest that it reveals the biases of the host media outlets. While many suspect that Moussa and Aboul Fotouh are the two leading candidates, polling data are variable and unreliable. Further criticisms were raised in regards to the partiality of TV station owners, some of whom have stated their support for certain candidates in the past. The lack of a live audience and the inability of members of the public to contribute with questions is also a point of disagreement. Some viewed the debate, which was broadcast for several hours, as a primarily commercial effort.
But more problematic than these relatively minor flaws in the debate is the larger framework in which the elections are proceeding. For Egyptian expatriates, voting has already begun. Some activists, however, remain sceptical. The elections are not what many revolutionaries envisioned: They will take place under military rule, much of the Mubarak regime is still in place, and a constitution has yet to be written.