President Mohamed Morsy revved up his computer and sat down to answer to the people Wednesday, at least according to his office, which recently announced he would respond to questions posed on Twitter.
Since then, a series of mainly vague missives have emerged from Morsy's official Twitter handle @MuhammadMorsi.
"Why did you withdraw the reports filed against those who insult you, president. They will only be deterred by strictness," asked one user on the social media site.
"I leave it to the public opinion to judge transgressors. By my decision I sent across a message that I hope has arrived at the correct address," read the president's response.
"The right address? where did they tell you it was?" jibed a user who goes by Mohab.
In reaching out to online activists — not the Islamist leader's typical support base — the presidency exposed itself to a number of jabs.
Many struck a defiant tone, while others called the president out when his answers seemed less than satisfying.
One person asked if people could have hope of getting bread, medical care and humane treatment or protest without being called thugs.
"We seek to achieve the mottoes of the revolution, including bread, freedom, social justice and human dignity, and we want you to give us a hand," answered the president's account.
This led Wael Molla to ask: "What does the answer have to do with the question? … do you understand the question Mr. President?"
User Memo Ahmed wondered, "Why are you always against the revolutionary youth in many things, and you don’t listen to them, unlike the 'feloul'?"
To which Morsy answered, "The revolutionary youth have all my appreciation. Isn’t this Twitter [account] a message from me to all the youth."
Others took a different approach to the rare real-time interaction with the presidency, like @AgainstNoshta, who asked why the president wasn't "following" him.
Asked in one tweet when corruption would be eliminated, Morsy replied: "We have a heavy burden of corruption and the road is long, but I will not give up until the whole of Egypt has been purged of it."
The Egyptian president added that he respects honest businessmen and their role in serving the country. He also said he was following up on the restoration of funds smuggled overseas.
His solution to the country's economic straits? Morsy called on Egyptians "to be patient and to work seriously," adding that he's working on a plan.
Translation by Salma Salah
