The National Council, representing parties, movements, organizations, syndicates and civil society activists met for the first time on Saturday.

The idea of the council is to be an independent body representing all the political forces of society after the revolution including its parties, movements, organizations and syndicates. The council is made up of 124 representatives and more than a hundred public figures. However, the Mulsim Brotherhood, Egypt’s largest opposition group, has refused to join the council.

The council was formed with the purpose to “defend and continue the revolution” and was launched after the Egypt National Conference which was held on May 7.

In their first meeting, the council members plan to discuss several issues including the possibility of a new constitution and the country’s economic and security situation, said the council’s main sponsor Mamdouh Hamza in the opening session.