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By its constitution, Egypt has a multi-party system, however in practice the National Democratic Party is the long-time ruling party and is dominant in the Egyptian political arena. Opposition parties are allowed, but are widely considered to have no real chance of gaining power.
Law 40 of 1977 regulates the formation of political parties in Egypt. This law prohibits the formation of religious-based political parties, although there are growing political pressure groups such as Kefaya movement and the Muslim Brotherhood, who are seeking more balance in political power.
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History
Emergence of political parties in Egypt in the 19th century was a reflection of social, economic and cultural interactions as well as certain historical, national and political circumstances, leading to the creation and development of modern institutions of government administration and society, such as the parliament, cabinets, political parties, syndicates, etc. This emergence has been gradual and has gone through successive stages. Political parties have firstly been formed as secret societies that were followed by formation of political groups.
The National Party, not to be confused with the current National Democratic Party (NDP), was the first party, formed in 1907 by Mostafa Kamel. In less than ten years, there was a great variety in these parties; in their nature, formation, organization, power, their popular base and platforms. There were national parties, groups dominated by the royal palace, others formed by the occupation authority as well as ideological parties expressing certain ideologies.
In 1907 - 1920, the already-formed political parties in Egypt were a starting signal for the dissemination of further parties; however, they were restricted due to the British occupation and Egyptian subordination to the Ottoman Empire. The February 1922 Declaration of Egypt's independence and the issuance of the 1923 Constitution have led to establishing a royal constitutional rule based on party pluralism and principles of liberal democracy.
During 1923 - 1952, Egypt witnessed a remarkable experience rich in political and democratic practices, however, such an experience was marked with many defects such as the British occupation, foreign intervention in Egypt's affairs and the royal palace's interference in political life. With the outbreak of the July 1952 Revolution, the Egyptian regime worked to liquidate the opposition. In January 1953, an enactment was adopted on disbanding the political parties and adoption of the one-party rule. The enactment of the parties' law in 1977 demonstrated Egypt's political regime officially turned into the era of party pluralism.
Party law review
Talk of political reform has never before come naturally to the NDP, a party which has often been accused of rigging elections to secure its overwhelming parliamentary majorities. The NDP now says it wants to remove the constraints hampering the political activities of other parties in the country.
"There is thinking about reviewing the law on political parties to give more freedom for new parties to be established and more freedom of action to those which already exist," said Mohamed Kamal a member of the Policy Secretariat.
So far the scope of the proposed reforms has not been made clear. The party also says it wants to improve the relationship between citizens and the police - an important issue in a country accused by human rights groups of the systematic use of torture in police stations.
The known Parties of Egypt
Political parties in Egypt also lists political parties in that country.
There are 24 Political parties in Egypt now :
- Egyptian Arab Socialist Party (Hizb Misr al-arabi al-ishtaraki), founded 7-7-1977.
- Liberal Party (Hizb al-Ahrar) ,founded 7-7-1977.
- Progressive National Unionist Party (Hizb al Tagammo' al Watani al Taqadommi al Wahdwawi') - Leftist party, founded 7-7-1977.
- New Wafd Party (Hizb al-Wafd-al-Gadid),founded 4-2-1978.
- National Democratic Party ('Al'Hizb Al Watani Al Democrati'), founded 1-10-1978.
- The Socialist Labour Party (Labour Party), founded 11-12-1978 - Suspended.
- Umma Party (Hizb al-Umma) ,founded 26-5-1983.
- The Democratic Unionist Party (Hizb al-Itahadi al-Democrati),founded 14-4-1990.
- Egyptian Greens,founded 14-4-1990.
- Misr El-Fatah (Young Egypt) Party,founded 14-4-1990.
- The People's Democratic Party (PDP),founded 15-3-1992 - Currently frozen.
- Arab Democratic Nasserist Party or Nasserist Party,founded 19-4-1992.
- The Social Justice Party ,founded 6-6-1993.
- Solidarity Party (Hizb Al Takaful ),founded 5-2-1995.
- National Conciliation Party (Hizb al-Wifak),founded 2-3-2000.
- Egypt 2000 Party,founded 7-4-2001.
- Democratic Generation (El-Geel) Party,founded 9-2-2002.
- Tomorrow Party (Hizb al-Ghad),founded 27-10-2004.
- Constitutional Party (al-Hizb al-distouri),founded 24-11-2004.
- Egypt Youth Party,founded 2-7-2005.
- Democratic Peace Party,founded 2-7-2005.
- Conservative Party,founded 12-3-2006.
- Free republican Party ,founded 4-7-2006.
- Democratic Front Party (Hizb al-Gabha al-Democrati),founded 24-5-2007.
Awaiting license
- Dignity Party (Hizb al-Karama) - a Nasserist offshoot led by journalist and MP Hamdeen Sabahi. Isn't granted full-license yet.
- Liberal Egyptian Party (el Hizb el Masri el Liberali), formerly Mother Egypt Party (Hizb Masr el-Omm) - a secular, Egyptian nationalist party.
- Center Party (Hizb Al-Wasat)- a Muslim Brotherhood offshoot with moderate tendencies, led by Abul-Ela Madi.
Other Political Groups
- Society of the Muslim Brotherhood (Jama'at al-ikhwan al-muslimin)
- Communist Party of Egypt (al-hezb al-sheo'ey al-masry)
- Kefaya Movement
See also
- Index of political parties to browse parties by name
- List of political parties to browse parties by country
- List of political parties by ideology to browse parties by name
- Membership of internationals to browse parties by membership of internationals
- Liberalism in Egypt
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