Egypt has had differing multi-party systems since independence, with a hiatus between 1953 and 1977, after which the current party law was enacted. [1] Nevertheless, in practice the National Democratic Party was the long-time ruling party and dominated the Egyptian political arena, first under president Anwar Sadat, and then president Hosni Mubarak from its foundation in 1978, up until its dissolution in the wake of the Egyptian Revolution of 2011, and the ousting of Mubarak. Under Mubarak, opposition parties were allowed, but were widely considered to have no real chance of gaining power. On 28 March 2011, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces amended Political Party Law 40/1977, [1] easing restrictions on the legal establishment of new political parties in Egypt, where many new parties covering the political spectrum were formed. After the 2013 popular coup/revolution, and a further seismic political shift, another wave of new parties were formed, a large number of which were aligned with current non-partisan president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. [2] In December 2020, final results of the parliamentary election confirmed a clear majority of the pro-Sisi Mostaqbal Watan (Nation’s Future) Party. [3]
Under the new Infitah (liberal realignment) of president Anwar Sadat, and in the aftermath of the 1973 October War and the peace process with Israel, Sadat’s decree in March 1976 founded a three-party platform within the framework of the Arab Socialist Union, representing the right, the center and the left, before spinning them off on 22 November of the same year into political parties. [4] These three parties, were the first nucleus of the restricted partisan pluralism allowed by the Political Parties Law 40/1977: [4] [1]
Parties established by judicial rulings (11): [4]
In the wake of the January 2011 uprising in Egypt, the deposition of Hosni Mubarak and dissolution of his National Democratic Party that ruled for over three decades, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces issued a decree-law 12/2011 amending certain provisions of the Political Parties Law 40/1977, [5] after which many parties were formed.
The legislation was however criticized as discriminatory. Under the law new parties are now required to have at least 5,000 members from at least ten of Egypt's provinces. Originally, new parties were only required to have 1,000 members. This was cited as a barrier for new parties before parliamentary elections which took place at the end of 2011 and beginning of 2012. [6] Also, new party leaders are required to raise at least LE1 million to publish the names of the founding members in two widely circulated dailies, seen as favoring wealthier interests. [7] No parties are able to form on the basis of religion or class, ruling out the formation of Islamic and labor parties. [6] However, in practice, religious parties have been allowed. After first being denied a license by the political parties commission, [8] the Supreme Administrative Court allowed Gamaa Islamiya to form the Building and Development Party. [9] The political parties commission allowed the Al Nour Party to be approved in May 2011, in part because it does not refer to the hudud in their electoral program. [10] An article on the Daily News Egypt website states that religious parties have gone around the ban by not explicitly advocating a state based on Islam in their political programs. [11]
On July 3, 2013, president Mohamed Morsi, the leader of the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) was removed from power in the aftermath of the June 30 popular coup/revolution, which later resulted in a new (2014) constitution banning parties based on religion, effectively dissolving the dominant FJP. [12]
In June 2014, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi became Egypt's first president not affiliated with a political party. [13] [2] However, a number of pro-Sisi parties have since formed, [3] and by 2018, 104 political parties were officially registered and approved by the Committee of Parties. [4]
Egyptian politics are subject to unique circumstances and often defy simple classification in terms of the political spectrum. Currently, over 100 registered political parties in Egypt exist. [14] Groups are sometimes associated with the political left or right, especially in international circles, according to their stance on issues. While the current Egyptian constitution prohibits the formation of political parties based on religion, there are parties that seek to establish Islamic sharia laws, or uphold the article in the constitution that states that sharia law is the main source of legislation, and others that support the formation of a secular state. The following is a categorization of political parties based on their social, economical, and political orientation, as well as their legal status: [15] [16]
Name | Founded | Leader | Political position | Ideology | Senate | House | Position on 2013 coup d'état and 2011 revolution | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nation's Future Party حزب مستقبل وطن Hizb Mustaqbal Watan | 2014 | Abdel-Wahab Abdel-Razeq | Big tent | Egyptian nationalism Economic liberalism Militarism | 149 / 300 | 316 / 596 | Pro-Coup | |
Republican People's Party حزب الشعب الجمهورى Hezb al-Shaeb al-Gomhuri | 2012 | Hazem Omar | Centre-left to Centre-right | Egyptian nationalism Secularism Militarism Liberalism Social liberalism | 17 / 300 | 50 / 596 | Pro-Coup | |
New Wafd Party حزب الوفد المصري Ḥizb al-Wafd al-Jadīd | 1978 | Bahaa El-Din Abu Shoka | Centre-right | Egyptian nationalism Secularism Conservatism Liberal conservatism Economic liberalism National liberalism Conservative liberalism | 10 / 300 | 26 / 596 | Anti-Coup | |
Homeland Defenders Party حزب حماة الوطن Ḥizb Hamaat al-Watan | 2013 | Galal Haridy | Centre to centre-right | Centrism Militarism | 11 / 300 | 23 / 596 | Pro-Coup | |
Modern Egypt Party حزب مصر الحديثة Ḥizb Masr al-Haditha | 2011 | Nabil Deibis | Centre to centre-right | Liberalism | 4 / 300 | 11 / 596 | Pro-Coup | |
Reform and Development Party حزب الأصلاح و التنمية Ḥizb al-Islah wa al-Tanmiyah | 2009 | Mohamed Anwar Esmat Sadat | Centre | Market liberalism | 3 / 300 | 9 / 596 | Anti-Coup | |
Egyptian Social Democratic Party الحزب المصرى الديمقراطى الاجتماعى al-Ḥizb al-Maṣrī al-Dimuqrāṭī al-Ijtmāʿī | 2011 | Mervat Tallawy | Centre-left | Secularism Social democracy Social liberalism Progressivism | 3 / 300 | 7 / 596 | Anti-Coup | |
Egyptian Freedom Party حزب الحرية المصري Hizb al-Huriyat al-Misriu | 2011 | Ahmed Muhanna | Big tent | Liberalism | 1 / 300 | 7 / 596 | Anti-Coup | |
Egyptian Conference Party حزب المؤتمر المصري Ḥizb al-Muʾtamar al-Maṣrī | 2012 | Omar El-Mokhtar Semeida | Centre to centre-left | Big tent Social liberalism | 3 / 300 | 7 / 596 | Anti-Coup | |
Al-Nour Party حزب النور Ḥizb an-Nūr | 2011 | Younes Makhioun | Far-right | Salafi Islamism Wahhabism Madkhalism | 2 / 300 | 7 / 596 | Pro-Coup | |
National Progressive Unionist Rally Party حزب التجمع الوطني التقدمي الوحدوي Ḥizb al-Tagammu' al-Watani al-Taqadomi al-Wahdawi | 1977 | Sayed Abdel Aal | Left-wing | Nasserism Left-wing nationalism Democratic socialism Left-wing populism | 4 / 300 | 6 / 596 | Anti-Coup | |
Justice Party حزب العدل Ḥizb el-Adl | 2011 | Hamdi Stouhi | Centre | Big tent Secularism | 1 / 300 | 2 / 596 | ||
Erdat Gil Party حزب إرادة جيل Ḥizb 'Iiradat Jil | 2019 | Tayseer Matar | 1 / 300 | 1 / 596 | ||||
Egyptian Patriotic Movement الحركة الوطنية المصرية Ḥizb al-Ḥarakat al-Waṭaniyya al-Miṣriyya [17] | 2012 | Sayed Abdel Aal | Centre | Secularism | 2 / 300 | 0 / 596 | ||
Sadat Democratic Party حزب السادات الديمقراطي Hizb al-Saadat al-Diymuqratii | 2014 | Effat Sadat | Nationalism | 1 / 300 | 0 / 596 |
Party name English | Party name Arabic | Ideology | Political position | Legal status | Founded | Role in 2011 Egyptian Revolution | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Revolutionary Guards Party [18] | حزب حراس الثورة | ||||||
Human Rights and Citizenship Party [19] | حزب حقوق الانسان والمواطنة | Centrism | 27 September 2011 [20] | ||||
New Independent Party [18] | الحزب المستقل الجديد | Created by former members of the National Democratic Party [18] | |||||
Popular Current Party [21] | at-tāyar ash-shāʿībi al-masri التيار الشعبي المصري | 21 September 2014 [22] | |||||
Consciousness Party [23] | حزب الوعي | 2011 [24] | |||||
Knights of Egypt Party [25] | فرسان حزب مصر Forsan Masr | Liberalism [25] | Founded by former members of the Egyptian military [25] | ||||
National Bloc [26] | لكتلة الوطنية [26] | Founded by former members of the Constitution Party [26] | |||||
Arabism Egypt Party [27] | حزب مصر العروبة | Founded by Sami Anan [27] | |||||
Arabic Popular Movement [28] | الحركة الشعبية العربية | Founded by members of the Tamarod movement [28] | |||||
Egyptian Hope Party [29] | حزب الأمل المصري | Pragmatism [29] | Founded by former members of the Constitution Party [29] | ||||
Youth for Egypt Party [30] | حزب شباب من أجل مصر | Islamism [31] | Founded by former members of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood [30] | ||||
My Homeland Egypt Party [32] | Misr Baladi [32] حزب مصر بلدي | Founded by former National Democratic Party members [32] | |||||
Bread and Freedom Party [33] | Eish we Horria [33] حزب عيش وحرية | Socialism [33] | Left [33] | 2013 [33] | Founded by former members of the Socialist Popular Alliance Party [33] | ||
Democratic Jihad Party [34] | حزب الجهاد الديموقراطي | Islamism | Centrism [34] | Founded by former members of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad group [34] | |||
Egyptian Will Party [35] | حزب الإرادة المصرية | Founded by retired members of the Egyptian military [35] | |||||
Constitution Party | El-Dostour حزب الدستور | Big tent, Liberalism | Centre-left | 2012 [36] | 2012 | Supported | Founded by Mohamed ElBaradei |
Al Ansar Party [37] | حزب الأنصار | Islamism, Salafism [38] | |||||
Flag Party [37] | حزب العلم | Islamism, Salafism | Founded by Hazem Salah Abu Ismail [37] | ||||
We Are the People Party [39] | حزب نحن الشعب | 2014 [40] | Founded by former members of the parliament [41] | ||||
Nubian Nile Party [42] | حزب النيل النوبي | ||||||
Homeland Party [43] | Al-Watan [43] حزب الوطن | Islamism, Salafism [43] | 2013 [44] | 2013 [43] | Founded by Emad Abdel Ghaffour [43] | ||
Pioneer Party | Al Riyada [45] حزب الريادة | Unregistered | 2011 [46] | Founded by former members of the Muslim Brotherhood [47] | |||
Victory Party | El Nasr [48] حزب النصر | Sufism | Founded by a Sufi order [48] | ||||
Arab Party for Justice and Equality [49] | El Hezb el Araby lel Adl wel Mosawa [49] الحزب العربي للعدل والمساواة | Arab nationalism | 2011 [49] | Arab Bedouin tribes in Sinai and Upper Egypt | |||
Social Peace Party [50] | Al Salam el Egtemaii [50] حزب السلام الاجتماعي | Social liberalism | Third Way | 2011 [50] | |||
You Are Egyptian Party [51] | Enta Masry [51] حزب أنت مصري | 2011 [51] | |||||
Revolution Egypt Party [52] | Masr El Thawra [52] حزب مصر الثورة | Liberal democracy | 2011 [52] | ||||
Free Egypt Party [53] | Masr el Horra [53] حزب مصر الحرة | 2011 [53] | |||||
Quiver Party [54] | El Kenana | 2009 [54] | |||||
Voice of Freedom Party [55] | Sot el Horreya [55] حزب صوت الحرية | Islamism, Sufism | Rifa’i Sufi order [55] | ||||
Workers and Peasants Party [56] | el Ommal wel Fallahin حزب العمال والفلاحين | Socialism [56] | Left [56] | Founded by Kamal Khalil [56] | |||
Life of the Egyptians Party [57] | Hayat el Masreyyn [58] حزب حياة المصريين | Secularism [57] | Founded by former MP Mohamed Abu Hamed [59] | ||||
Egyptian Alliance Party [60] | حزب التحالف المصري | 2011 [60] | |||||
Equality and Development Party [61] | حزب المساواة والتنمية | Supported [62] | |||||
Egyptian Reform Party [63] | حزب الإصلاح المصري | Islamism, Salafism [63] | Right | Unregistered | 2011 [64] | Young Salafis [63] | |
National Party of Egypt | Masr el Qawmi [65] حزب مصر القومي | 2011 [65] | |||||
Egyptian Citizen Party | El Mowaten el Masri [65] حزب المواطن المصري | Big tent | 2011 [65] | ||||
Egypt Renaissance Party | Nahdet Masr [65] حزب نهضة مصر | ||||||
Egypt Development Party | Masr el Tanmeya [65] حزب مصر التنمية | ||||||
Egypt Revival Party | Masr el Nahda [65] حزب احياء مصر | Founded by Hossam Badrawi [65] | |||||
Union Party | El Etehad [65] حزب الاتحاد | Centrism | 2011 [65] | Founded by Hossam Badrawi [65] | |||
Beginning Party | El Bedaya [65] حزب البداية | 2011 [65] | |||||
Reform and Renaissance Party | El Eslah wel Nahda [66] حزب اللإصلاح والنهضة | Islamism [66] | Unregistered | 2011 [66] | |||
Egyptian Change and Development Party | حزب التغيير والتنمية المصري | Islamism [67] | Unregistered | ||||
Islamic Party [68] | الحزب الإسلامي | Islamism [69] | Far-right | ||||
Virtue Party [70] | El Fadila [70] حزب الفضيلة | Islamism, Salafism [71] [72] | Right | 2011 [71] | |||
Arab Unification Party [73] | El Tawhid el Arabi [67] حزب التوحيد العربي | Pan-Arabism, Islamism [73] | Right | 2011 [73] | |||
Renaissance Party [74] | El Nahda [74] حزب النهضة | Islamism, Salafism [72] | Right | ||||
Authenticity Party | El-Asala [72] حزب الأصالة | Islamism, Salafism | Far-right | 2011 [72] | |||
People Party | El Shaab [75] حزب الشعب | Islamism | Right | Unregistered | 2012 | Salafi Front | |
Egyptian Nation Party | El Omma el Masreya حزب الأمة المصرية | Islamism, Salafism | Right | Unregistered | 2012 | ||
Egypt the Future Party [76] | Masr el Mostaqbal حزب مصر المستقبل | Moderate Islamism | Centrism [77] | 2012 [78] | Founded by Amr Khaled | ||
New Labour Party [79] | El Amal el gadid [79] حزب العمل الجديد | Islamism, Salafist [79] | |||||
Strong Egypt Party [80] | Masr Al-Qaweya حزب مصر القوية | Moderate Islamism | Centrist | Registered [81] | 2012 | Supported | Founded by Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh |
Life Party | El Haya حزب الحياة | Liberalism, Secularism, Coptic interests | Centrism | 2011 | 2011 | Supported | Founded by Coptic Activist Micheal Meunier |
Egyptian Current Party | El Tayyar el Masri حزب التيار المصري | Moderate Islamism | Centrism | Registered | 2011 | Supported | Youths of Muslim Brotherhood |
Unity Democratic Egyptian Party | El Wehda el Dimoqrati el Masri | Moderate, Secularism | Centrism | Unregistered | 2012 | ||
Egyptian Arab Union Party | El Etehad el Masri el Arabi | Pan-Arabism, Secularism | Centrism | Registered | 2011 | ||
Justice Party [82] | El Adl | Liberalism, Secularism | Centrism | Registered | 2011 | Supported | April 6 Movement, National Association for Change, Kefaya |
Arab Democratic Nasserist Party | El Arabi el Dimoqrati el Nasseri | Nasserism, Secularism | Left | Registered | 1992 | ||
Building and Development Party | El Benaa wel Tanmeya | Islamism | Right | Registered | 2011 | ||
Al-Wasat Party | El Wasat | Moderate Islamism | Centrism | 2011 [83] | 1996 | Supported | Branching from the Muslim Brotherhood |
Conservative Party | El Mohafezin | Conservatism, Secularism | Centre-right | Registered | 2006 | ||
Democratic Front Party | El Gabha el Dimoqrateya | Liberalism, Secularism | Centrism | Registered | 2007 | ||
Democratic Generation Party | El Geel el Dimoqrati | Secularism, Liberal democracy | Registered | 2002 | Opposed | ||
Democratic Peace Party | El Salam el Dimoqrati | Secularism | Registered | 2005 | |||
Democratic Union Party | El Etehad el Dimoqrati | Secularism | Registered | 1990 | |||
Dignity Party | El Karama | Nasserism, Secularism | Left | Supported | |||
Egypt 2000 Party | Masr 2000 | Anti-globalization, Secularism | 2001 | Opposed | |||
Egyptian Communist Party | El Shoiou'i el Masri | Communism | Far left | 1975 | Supported | ||
Egypt Youth Party | Shabab Misr | Secularism | 2005 | ||||
Egyptian Arab Socialist Party | Masr el Arabi el Eshteraki | Pan-Arabism | Left | 1977 | Opposed | ||
Free Egyptians Party | El Masreyyn el Ahrar | Liberalism, Liberal Democracy, Capitalism, Free Market | Right | 2011 | Support [84] | ||
Free Republican Party | El Gomhouri el Hor | 2006 | Opposed | ||||
Free Social Constitutional Party | El Dostouri el Egtemai' el Hor | Secularism, Liberal Democracy | 2004 | ||||
Freedom Egypt Party | Masr el Horreya | Social democracy, Secularism, | Centre-left | 2011 | Supported | ||
Green Party of Egypt | El Khodr | Green politics, Secularism | Left | 1990 | Opposed | ||
Liberal Egyptian Party | El Masri El Liberali | Secularism, Liberalism, Pharaonism, Egyptian nationalism, Liberal Democracy | Centre | Awaiting license | |||
Liberal Socialists Party | El Ahrar el Eshterakeyyn | Liberalism | Centre-right | 1977 | Opposed | ||
National Conciliation Party | El Wifak el Watani | Secularism | 2000 | ||||
Liberation Party | Hizb ut-Tahrir | Islamism | Far-right | Operational | 1953, 1974 | Founded by Taqiuddin al-Nabhani | |
People's Democratic Party | El Shaab el Dimoqrati | Secularism, Liberal Democracy | Currently frozen | 1992 | |||
Popular Socialist Alliance Party | El tahalof el Shaabi el Eshteraki | Socialism, Secularism | Far Left | 2011 | |||
Social Justice Party | El Adala el Egtemaei'a | Islamic socialism | Left | Registered | 1993 | Opposed | |
Egyptian Islamic Labour Party | El Amal el Islami el masri | Islamism | Suspended | 1978 | |||
Socialist Party of Egypt | El Eshteraki el Masri | Democratic Socialism, Secularism | Left | 2011 | Supported | ||
Solidarity Party | El takafol | 1995 | |||||
Tomorrow Party | El Ghad | Liberalism, Secularism | Centrism | 2004 | Opposed | ||
The Revolution's Tomorrow | Ghad el Thawra | Liberalism, Secularism | Centrism | 2011 | Supported | ||
Workers Democratic Party | El Ommal el Dimoqrati | Socialism, Secularism | Left | Awaiting license | 2011 | ||
Young Egypt Party | Masr el Fatah | Islamism, Pan-Arabism | 1990 | ||||