The National Dialogue is finally underway: President Abdel Fattah El Sisi on Wednesday inaugurated the opening session of the National Dialogue after a year of preparations, according to a statement by the organizers. In a recorded speech to participants, El Sisi said the dialogue was necessary to address “the growing challenges facing the Egyptian nation at all levels,” adding that he hoped to participate in its final stages. Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly attended on Wednesday, as did several government ministers, ambassadors, heads of political parties, House and Senate reps, trade union and civil society leaders, and journalists. The entire two-hour session was broadcast live (watch, runtime: 2:08:44).

REFRESHER- The dialogue will hold three meetings a week for an unspecified duration to discuss more than 100 political, economic, and social issues. Some 800 individuals have been invited to participate. All sessions will be broadcast to the public.

Not up for discussion: The constitution, foreign policy, or national security issues,according to the dialogue’s general coordinator, Diaa Rashwan. None of the parties who accepted an invitation to participate in the dialogue wanted to discuss amending the constitution, Rashwan said, adding that “we fully support Egypt’s current foreign policies and the armed forces’ role in preserving national security.”

What’s the aim? The dialogue will “put forward the people’s demands before the concerned authorities and the president,” Rashwan said. Veteran diplomat Amr Moussa, who also gave a speech on the first day of the dialogue, said its final recommendations should go straight to parliament to be discussed by lawmakers and then turned into legislation by the government, rather than sent directly to the president.

What’s next: The dialogue’s next sessions will take place in the next 7-10 days, Rashwan said on Friday (watch, runtime: 23:13).

The news got international attention:Reuters.

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