Egypt - Political Parties - 2011
The once monolithic Egyptian political arena gave birth in the 1970s to a rich array of new political parties competing with the ruling party. While some were a "loyal" opposition and others closer to counterregime movements, all gave expression to interests and values different from those of the ruling party. By 2010 the principal political parties were the ruling National Democratic Party ('Al'Hizb Al Watani Al Democrati'), with the principal opposition parties including the New Wafd Party (Hizb al-Wafd-al-Gadid), Tomorrow Party (Hizb al-Ghad), Democratic Front Party, National Progressive Unionist Grouping (Tagammau), Arab Democratic Nasserist Party or Nasserist Party and the Liberal Party (Hizb al-Ahrar)
The New Wafd Party was a coalition of landowners, professionals, and merchants, led by a number of prominent leaders of the original Wafd, notably Fuad Siraj ad Din. It was the voice of the old aristocracy excluded from power by Nasser and of the wing of the private bourgeoisie still antagonistic to the state bourgeoisie that emerged in the shadow of the regime. It also enjoyed a significant following among the educated middle class. The party's main plank called for genuine political liberalization, including competitive election of the president. It demanded thorough economic liberalization to match political liberalization, including a radical reduction in the public sector, in state intervention in the economy, and in barriers to a full opening to international capitalism. Although it clashed with Sadat over the legitimacy of the 1952 Revolution, as the economic role of the state was strengthened under Mubarak, the New Wafd Party came to speak with a Sadatist slant to the "right" of the ruling NDP.
Although beginning as a faction of the ASU headed by a left-wing Free Officer, Khalid Muhi ad Din, the National Progressive Unionist Party (Hizb al Tagammo' al Watani al Taqadommi al Wahdwawi') (NPUP or Tagamu or Tagammau) evolved into an authentic opposition party of the left. It brought together, behind an ideology of nationalist populism with Marxist roots, a coalition of Marxist and Nasserite intellectuals and trade union leaders. It defended the Nasserite heritage, rejected the alignment with the United States and the separate peace with Israel, and called for a return to Egypt's anti-imperialist role. It rejected the infitah as damaging to national industry and leading to foreign domination, debt, corruption, and inequality; it called for a return to development led by the public sector. It had a small but well organized base of activists.
Democracy activist and opposition politician Ayman Nour was sentenced to a five year term in jail in January 2006 for forgery. Mr. Nour, leader of the al-Ghad party (Tomorrow), ran for President of Egypt against Mr. Mubarak on a platform that called for greater democracy and freedom in Egypt. His prosecution on forgery charges was seen by independent observers as an attempt by the Mubarak government to enhance its political position by discrediting a secular, democratic opponent. In Egypt's September 7, 2005 presidential election Hosni Mubarak of the National Democratic Party won a fifth consecutive six-year term with 88% of the vote. Out of numerous opposition candidates, the two main challengers, Ayman Nour of the Al-Ghad party and Noaman Gomaa of Al-Wafd, received 7.3% and 2.8% of the vote, respectively. On 18 May 2007, the Court of Cassation, Egypt's highest appeals court, upheld the five-year prison sentence of Ayman Nour, runner-up in the 2005 presidential election and leader of the opposition al-Ghad (Tomorrow) Party. A Cairo court had convicted Nour in December 2005 of forging proxy signatures on his party's registration papers. Human rights organizations and Nour's supporters said his detention and trial had been politically motivated and failed to meet basic international standards. Ayman Nour (age 42) had served four years of ing a five-year sentence for forgery in a prison hospital until his sudden and unexpected release in February 2009. During his incarceration, Nour's politicalparty, Al Ghad, split in half, and the party headquarters burned to the ground after a violentconfrontation there between rival wings of the party. Egyptian law prohibits individuals withcriminal records from holding a political office, and Nour, who has vowed to return to public life, has appealed his conviction.
By law, political parties must be approved by the seven-member Political Parties Committee (PPC). Since 1977, the Committee has approved 19 political parties and rejected almost 50. The most recent party to obtain a license was the Democratic Front Party, made up of former NDP members, which was established in May 2007. The NDP itself is more of a coalition of business and political elites rather than a coherent and disciplined organization with a unifying ideology.
The Nasserite Party is traditionally a rival of the al-Wafd Party. The 2005 Parliamentary elections saw the creation of a united front was able to unite the Liberal Party; the Nasserite Party; the Tagammu Party that has Marxist roots; the Kifaya movement that is a protest movement; the liberal Islamists; and the al-Karama Party, which split from the Nasserite Party.
The tiny Liberal Party was formed in 1976 from a right-wing sliver of the the Arab Socialist Union [the precursor to the present ruling National Democratic Party ] by an ex-army officer. Grouping landowners and professionals, it was to the right of the ruling party. Its ideology combined calls for the selling of the public sector, an end to subsidies, and unrestricted foreign investment with demands for further political liberalization and an attempt to mobilize God and Islam in defense of capitalism. Having little popular appeal, it operated as an elite pressure group speaking for private enterprise and generally in support of Sadat's liberalization policies.
The Socialist Labor Party (SLP or Amal) was formed in 1979 under Sadat's encouragement to displace the NPUP (which was proving too critical) as the loyal opposition party of the left. While its social composition--landlords and professionals--resembled the Liberal Party, many of its leaders were quite different in political background, having belonged to the radical nationalist Young Egypt Party (Misr al Fatat) before 1952. Despite its origin, the party, alienated by Sadat's separate peace, by the corruption in his regime, and by the excesses of infitah, soon moved into opposition, becoming a public sector defender critical of untrammeled capitalism and Western alignment. The SLP lacked a large organized base and relied on the personal followings of its leaders. It and the Liberal Party, in an effort to overcome their limited popular appeal, joined in 1987 with the Muslim Brotherhood in the Islamic Alliance under the slogan "Islam is the solution."
The Islamic movement was fragmented into a multitude of autonomous factions that shared the common goal of an Islamic state but differed in social origin and in tactics. Those that were willing to work through the system were allowed to organize and nominate candidates in parliamentary elections. But no Islamic party, as such, was permitted, and major sections of the movement remained in intense, often violent conflict with the regime. Thus, the movement was only partially integrated into the party system.
The mainstream of the movement, the Muslim Brotherhood, was a coalition led by ulama, merchants, and lower-middle-class student activists commanding a following in the traditional urban quarters. It was founded as a radical movement in the 1930s by Hasan al Banna, was repressed under Nasser, and reemerged in more moderate form under Sadat. Umar Tilmasani, its main leader in the Sadat era, was associated with the infitah and its leader thereafter, Muhammad Hamid Abu an Nasr, was from a wealthy provincial family. The Brotherhood was split along generational lines among factions loyal to its various previous leaders. These factions included the more radical elements loyal to the founder, the conservative Tilmasani faction, and the parliamentary caucus in the late 1980s led by Mahmud al Hudaibi, son of the second Supreme Guide, or party leader.
On the Brotherhood's right were wealthy conservatives who justified capitalism in the language of religion. The more activist Jamaat al Islamiyah (Islamic Associations), an amorphous movement of many small groups, were drawn from a cross-section of the student population, while the most radical Islamic groups, such as At Takfir wal Hijra (Atonement and Alienation) and Al Jihad (Holy War), were made up of educated, lower-middle-class elements and recent urban emigrants from the village. Various populist preachers in the traditional urban neighborhoods enjoyed broad personal followings. Whereas the movement was weak among industrial workers and peasants, it was strongly attractive to more "marginal" elements such as educated, unemployed, rural migrants and the traditional mass of small merchants and artisans.
All the Islamic groups shared a rejection of both Marxism and Westernization in the name of an Islamic third way that accepted private property and profit but sought to contain their inegalitarian consequences by a moral code and a welfare state. The main ideological difference between the Islamic groups centered on the means for reaching an Islamic order; whereas moderate groups advocated peaceful proselytization, detente with the regime, and work through established institutions, radical groups pursued a more activist challenge to the secular order, and some advocated its violent overthrow.
New Political Parties Registered in 2011
By its constitution, Egypt has a multi-party system, however in practice the National Democratic Party was the long-time ruling party and dominated the Egyptian political arena up until the Egyptian Revolution in 2011 which ousted NDP President Hosni Mubarak. Under Mubarak, opposition parties were allowed, but were widely considered to have no real chance of gaining power. As of February 11, 2011, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces has governed Egypt.
On March 28, 2011, the Council introduced the Political Party Law which eases restrictions on the legal establishment of new political parties in Egypt. Under the law new parties are now required to have at least 5000 members from at least ten of Egypt's provinces. Originally new parties were only required to have 1000 members. This would make it harder for new parties to form before parliamentary elections scheduled for September 2011. And new party leaders are required to raise at least LE1 million [about US$167,000 ] to publish the names of the founding members in two widely-circulated dailies, seen as favoring wealthier interests. Also no parties are able to form on the basis of religion or class, ruling out the formation of Islamic and labor parties
Freedom and Justice Party (Hizb Al horriya w alaadala) Muslim Brotherhood's party [Party leader - Mohammad Morsi] While Islamic Sharia is the source of legislation, non-Muslims are entitled to litigate in regard to personal status cases in accordance with their own laws. Shura (consultation) is the root of democracy and the only way to achieving national interests. All citizens should be entitled to the inalienable rights of freedom, justice and equality without discrimination on account of faith, gender or colour and providing that the freedom of the individual does not encroach on that of the others or on that of the nation. The Party's goals include to create a new set of international relations, the goal of which is to achieve human interaction away from all forms of hegemony, in the hope that an inter-cultural reaction could be ensured that best serves mankind as a whole, and to regain Egypt’s leading role on the regional, Arab, Islamic and international fronts.
Al Nour Party [Salafist] The Political Parties Affairs Committee decided on 12/6/2011 to accept foundation papers of "Al Nour" Salafi party that its papers had been submitted by Emad al-Din Abdul Ghafoor, as a founder of the party, that the party has a legal personality and the right to direct its political activities as of Monday, June 13, 2011, the day following the issuance of the Parties Affairs Committee decision. The party aims at defending the application of Islamic law, and accessing its goal with scientific peaceful manner governed by the provisions of Sharia and religion. The party emphasizes the full commitment to the public system, general morals of the state, respect of its legitimacy and non-deviation from its principles. The party has been selected Emad al-Din Abdul Ghafoor as the founder.
Reform and Development (al-Islah wal-Tanmiya) Party [Founder - Mohammad Anwar al-Sadat] The party was established on May 22, 2011 by a ruling of the Supreme Administrative Court Principles: Providing for good governance and the rule of law; Maintaining religion as the source of values and ensuring freedom of faith; Promoting the separation of powers and the peaceful transition of power; Promoting the responsible freedom of individuals in trade and the media; Promoting the independence of religious, judicial and educational associations; Promoting social justice and equal opportunities; Highlighting Egypt's important regional and international role and ensuring the dignity of Egyptians both at home and abroad. http:/www.rdpegypt.org/about_us.asp
El-Adl (Justice) Party Objectives: Protecting the gains of the January Revolution; Building a new Egyptian personality; Promoting political and social participation and instilling the principle of citizenship into Egyptians both at home and abroad; Achieving an all-out scientific revival; Achieving a sustainable economic development; Achieving food sufficiency; Achieving self sufficiency in water and power; Transforming to new and renewable energy sources; Maintaining Egypt's pioneer regional and international role. http://eladl.org/
Al-Massreyeen al-Ahrrar (Free Egyptians) Party •Developing Egypt and making it a nation where civil rights and equality of duties prevail, free from any form of religious, gender, ethnic or social discrimination, and where the values of freedom and human rights stipulated by the Constitution principles prevail, including citizens’ rights for social and health care provided by a developed and genuinely democratic state. http://almasreyeenalahrrar.org/
Egyptian Socialist Democratic Party (ESDP) The ESDP seeks to protect the political, civil, economic, social, cultural rights of all citizens, protect individual rights and unleash the people's productive and creative potential. The ESDP is intent on maintaining a healthy pollution-free environment by enforcing the laws which seek to protect Egypt's flora and fauna as well as natural resources. The ESDP seeks to bring the armament race to a halt and to eliminate weapons of mass destruction not only from the region but from the entire world. The party is intent on achieving just peace in the Middle East and supports the right of the Palestinian people to an independent state. http://www.egysdp.com/
Masr al-Sawra (Revolution’s Egypt) Party Objectives: Meeting local needs including paying attention to textile industries and handicrafts; Transferring small enterprise technologies; Reducing exports; Strategizing to revive Egypt's leading international role; Using the surrounding environment to provide needed raw materials.
Arab Justice and Equality Party Date of foundation - July 6, 2011; Party leader - Hassaballah al-Kafrawi.
Masr al-Hadytha (Modern Egypt) Party Objectives: Building a modern state in Egypt through the participation of all political and social forces; Ensuring a better education; Asserting that the people are the source of all power; Achieving social justice; Achieving agricultural development; Ensuring health care; Implementing youth- oriented projects; Drafting effective economic laws; Ensuring that the River is untouchable. http://www.masrelhadytha.org/
Alwast Party Alwast is the emblem of the city of Thebes.
Major Alliances for Egypt's 2011-2012 Parliamentary Elections
Democratic Alliance for Egypt: Formed in June 2011, it was the first significant political coalition to emerge after President Hosni Mubarak's February resignation. The coalition is led by the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party and includes at least five other political groups. The alliance started out as a broad-based coalition of liberal and Islamist parties but some of its original members left due to ideological differences.
Islamist Alliance (Alliance for Egypt): Led by the Salafist party al-Nour and includes at least two other groups. Its members were originally part of the Democratic Alliance but split because of a disagreement over the number of candidates they would be able to field in the elections. The Islamist Alliance formed in late September.
Egyptian Bloc: The liberal coalition has lost members since its formation in August and now includes only the Free Egyptians, Social Democratic and al-Tagammu parties. The bloc says it hopes to bring together political forces that are committed to a civil democratic state based on a principle of separation between religion and politics.
Completing the Revolution Alliance: Formed in October, the alliance includes youth, socialist, liberal and moderate Islamist parties. Most were formerly part of the Egyptian Bloc. Members include the Revolutionary Youth Coalition, the Egypt Freedom Party and the Socialist Popular Alliance Party
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
