Egypt: Text of the Latest Agreement between SCAF and Party Leaders

Chief of staff of the Armed Forces Sami Anan and other military officials met Saturday with the heads of some political parties and movements to discuss the current situation on the political scene including the transition of power, the parliamentary electoral law, the emergency law, and the demand for a decree to isolate remnants from the former regime from surfacing onto the political landscape.

The meeting ended with the following agreements between both sides:

1: The newly elected parliament will convene in the second half of January 2012, while the Shura council will begin its first session following the elections on March 24. A meeting will take place where both elected candidates from the upper and lower house will be present no later than the first week of April 2012 to choose an elected panel to draft the new constitution according to the general principles endorsed by parties. Doors will be then open for the registering of presidential candidates in the next day after approving the new constitution.

2: Amendments to article 5 of the parliamentary electoral law were made allowing both independents and members of political parties to run for individual seats.

3: The annulling of the emergency law except in special cases will be looked into, in addition to contemplating the isolating of remnants from the former regime from political participation.

4: The end of referring citizens to military tribunals except in crimes stipulated by military law.

5: The issuance of a law pertaining to electoral crimes stipulated in the political rights law.

6: The commitment of all political factions in cooperating to ensure safety and security during the elections away from corruption.

7: Domestic and foreign civil organizations to monitor the elections according to the decisions made by the supreme electoral committee.

8: Consensus between political parties and factions regarding the panel to be chosen to draft the country’s new constitution, and agreement on a set of principles to be adopted by all the signatory parties when drafting the new constitution, and those principles are to be considered an informal code of ethics endorsed by the parties.

The political leaders below who have signed the document have declared their full support of SCAF’s decisions and appreciate the efforts made by the military for a safe and sound transition of power.

Al-Wafd Party: Dr. Sayed Badawy

Freedom and Justice Party: Dr. Mohamed Morsi

Democratic Front Party: Al Saeed Kamel

Reform and Development Party: Mohamed Anwar Al-Sadat and Ramy Lakah

The Egyptian Social Democratic Party: Dr. Mohamed Abu Alghar

Modern Egypt Party: Dr. Nabil Debes

Al Nour Party: Emad Abdul Ghafour

Al Karama Party: Eng. Mohamed Sammy

The Democratic Nasserist Party: Dr. Mohamed Abu Al Ela

The Ghad Party: Mousa Mustafa Mousa

The Justice Party: Dr. Mustafa Al Nagar

The Free Egyptians Party: Dr. Ahmed Saeed 

The Justice and Equality Party: Eng. Ali Freeg