Chief of Staff of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, Sami Anan, along with senior military officers, met with political party leaders on Saturday, 1 October, to discuss a timetable for the nation’s current transitional period, parliamentary elections laws, emergency law, security issues and political activity bans.

After many discussions the parties agreed on the following issues:

1-    The elected parliament will be in session from the second half of January 2012 and the elected Shura Council will be in session beginning on 23 March, 2012. Parliament and the Shura Council are to hold a joint session during the last week of March or the first week of April, and members of the constitutional council to draft the new constitution will be chosen during this session with the approval of political forces. The constitution has to be approved by a national referundum. Nominations for the presidency will begin the day  following the approval of the constitution.

2-      Approval for amending the fifth article of the parliamentary elections law to match the views of the political forces to allow single-seat nominations for political parties candidates.

3-      To study ending the emergency law, with the exception of certain crimes, and stripping former National Democratic Party members of political rights.

4-      Civilians are not to be subjected to military trials unless their crimes stipulate military law, in which case they will be tried in military courts.

5-      To draft a law which increases penalties for electoral crimes as stipulated by political law.

6-      For political parties to cooperate with security measures and resist any elements which may lead to their corruption.

7-      National and international NGO's are welcome to watch the electoral process in accordance to the rules of the supreme electoral committee. 

8-      For attending political party leaders to be in agreement regarding the basis and members of the constitutional committee to be chosen for drafting the country’s constitution. 

Those political parties who have signed this statement express full approval and backing for the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces and support their efforts to protect the revolution and transfer power to the people.

Parties that signed their agreements to the 8 stated points included the Wafd Party (represented by Sayed El-Badawy), the Freedom and Justice Party (represented by Mohamed Morsi), the Democratic Front Party (represented by El-Said Kamel), the Reform and Development Party (represented by Mohamed Anwar El-Sadat and Rami Lakah), the Modern Egypt Party (represented by Nabil Debes), Al-Nour Salafist Party (represented by Emad Abd El-Ghafour), Karama Party (represented by Mohamed Sami), the Nasserist Arab Democratic Party (represented by Mohamed Abou El-Elaa), Al-Ghad Party (represented by Mousa Mostafa Mousa), Al-Adl Party (represented by Mostafa El-Naggar), the Free Egyptians Party (represented by Ahmed Said), and the Arab Justice and Equality Party (represented by Ali Ferig).  Some parties chose not to attend the meeting, including the Wasat Islamic Party.

The name of Mohamed Abul Ghar, the head of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party, appears on the list of participating party leaders without a signature before it.