CAIRO - At last, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) now realises the need to consult the different political parties prior to issuing any legislation for organising work during the transitional period. After long debate and demonstrations organised by most political factions on Friday September 30, the SCAF has kneeled to public demand and agreed to amend the Election Law, so that members of the political parties can run for elections as individuals. During a meeting with heads of some 15 political parties, the SCAF also promised to consider their demands to ban former NDP members from political work and suspend the state of emergency. Most important is the decision to debate a document of constitutional principles and rules, to govern the selection of the committee to conduct the new Constitution. Monopolising decision-making nearly cost the SCAF the public support it acquired when the Egyptian Army took the side of the revolutionaries and shouldered responsibility for ruling the country on February 11. Following the January 25th Revolution, decisions cannot be taken unilaterally by any party, not even the Military Council. It is true that the revolution was launched by young people of no specific ideology or political background, but creating the new Egypt must involve the co-operation and agreement of different political factions, whether the old opposition parties or the new ones that have emerged out of Tahrir Square. The SCAF continues to promise to transfer authority to a civil power, but it should sit down with the political parties and negotiate the best way to do this. It is impossible for the political parties to continue to be denied having a say in the creation of a civil, democratic state. Via their threats to boycott the coming elections and calls for organising a one-million man demonstration next Friday, the different political factions have let the ruling military council know thatthey won't wait for a new parliament and president to enforce democratic rule. They want the SCAF to respect others' opinions when taking important decisions that will influence Egypt's image and future.
