Political parties since current 1977 law
Egypt has had differing multi-party systems over the last century and a half, 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]
Restricted partisan pluralism (1977 - January 25, 2011)
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 November 22 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]
• The Socialist Liberal Party (1976 — 2011).
• National Progressive Unionist Party (Ḥizb al-Tagammu' al-Watani al-Taqadomi al-Wahdawi - 1976).
Parties established later by declaration by the Parties Affairs Committee (10):[4]
• The New Wafd Party (1978).
• The National Democratic Party (1978 — 2011).
• The Socialist Labour Party (1978).
• The National Conciliation Party (2000).
• Al-Ghad Party (2004).
• The Free Social Constitutional Party (Al-Hizb Al-Distouri - 2004).
• The Democratic Peace Party (2005).
• The Conservative Party (2006).
• The Free Republican Party (Al-Hizb al-Gomhory al-Ahrar - 2006).
• The Democratic Front Party (2007).
Parties established by judicial rulings (11):[4]
• The National Umma Party (1983).
• The Democratic Unionist Party (1990).
• The Egyptian Green Party (1990).
• Young Egypt Party (Misr Al-Fatah - 1990).
• People's Democratic Party (1992).
• The Arab Democratic Nasserist Party (1992).
• Social Justice Party (1993).
• The Solidarity Party (Hizb Al-Takaful - 1995).
• Egypt 2000 Party (2001).
• Democratic Generation Party (Hizb El-Geel Al-Democrati - 2002).
• Egypt Youth Party (2005)
Post 2011 Revolution (2011 — 2013)
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 LE 1 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]
Post 2013 popular coup/revolution (2013 — present)
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]
List of currently active parties
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]
Parties represented in the House of Representatives or the Senate
Non-represented parties
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]
Founded by Sami Anan [27]
Arabic Popular Movement [28]
Founded by members of the Tamarod movement[28]
Egyptian Hope Party [29]
Pragmatism [29]
Founded by former members of the Constitution Party [29]
Youth for Egypt Party [30]
Islamism [31]
Founded by former members of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood [30]
My Homeland Egypt Party [32]
Misr Baladi[32]
Founded by former National Democratic Party members[32]
Bread and Freedom Party [33]
Eish we Horria[33]
Socialism [33]
Left [33]
2013[33]
Founded by former members of the Socialist Popular Alliance Party [33]
Democratic Jihad Party [34]
Islamism
Centrism [34]
Founded by former members of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad group[34]
Egyptian Will Party [35]
Founded by retired members of the Egyptian military[35]
Constitution Party
El-Dostour
Big tent , Liberalism
Centre-left
2012[36]
2012
Supported
Founded by Mohamed ElBaradei
Al Ansar Party [37]
Islamism , Salafism [38]
Flag Party [37]
Islamism , Salafism
Founded by Hazem Salah Abu Ismail [37]
We Are the People Party [39]
2014[40]
Founded by former members of the parliament[41]
Nubian Nile Party [42]
Homeland Party [43]
Al-Watan[43]
Islamism , Salafism [43]
2013[44]
2013[43]
Founded by Emad Abdel Ghaffour [43]
Pioneer Party
Al Riyada[45]
Unregistered
2011[46]
Founded by former members of the Muslim Brotherhood [47]
Victory Party
El Nasr[48]
Sufism
Founded by a Sufi order[48]
Arab Party for Justice and Equality [49]
El Hezb el Araby lel Adl wel Mosawa[49]
Arab nationalism
2011[49]
Arab Bedouin tribes in Sinai and Upper Egypt
Social Peace Party [50]
Al Salam el Egtemaii[50]
Social liberalism
2011[50]
You Are Egyptian Party [51]
Enta Masry[51]
2011[51]
Revolution Egypt Party [52]
Masr El Thawra[52]
Liberal democracy
2011[52]
Free Egypt Party [53]
Masr el Horra[53]
2011[53]
Quiver Party [54]
El Kenana
2009[54]
Voice of Freedom Party [55]
Sot el Horreya[55]
Islamism , Sufism
Rifa’i Sufi order[55]
Workers and Peasants Party [56]
el Ommal wel Fallahin
Socialism [56]
Left [56]
Founded by Kamal Khalil [56]
Life of the Egyptians Party [57]
Hayat el Masreyyn[58]
Secularism [57]
Founded by former MP Mohamed Abu Hamed [59]
Egyptian Alliance Party [60]
2011[60]
Equality and Development Party [61]
Supported[62]
Egyptian Reform Party [63]
Islamism , Salafism [63]
Right
Unregistered
2011[64]
Young Salafis[63]
National Party of Egypt
Masr el Qawmi[65]
2011[65]
Egyptian Citizen Party
El Mowaten el Masri[65]
Big tent
2011[65]
Egypt Renaissance Party
Nahdet Masr[65]
Egypt Development Party
Masr el Tanmeya[65]
Egypt Revival Party
Masr el Nahda[65]
Founded by Hossam Badrawi [65]
Union Party
El Etehad[65]
Centrism
2011[65]
Founded by Hossam Badrawi [65]
Beginning Party
El Bedaya[65]
2011[65]
Reform and Renaissance Party
El Eslah wel Nahda[66]
Islamism [66]
Unregistered
2011[66]
Egyptian Change and Development Party
Islamism [67]
Unregistered
Islamic Party [68]
Islamism [69]
Far-right
Virtue Party [70]
El Fadila[70]
Islamism , Salafism [71] [72]
Right
2011[71]
Arab Unification Party [73]
El Tawhid el Arabi[67]
Pan-Arabism , Islamism [73]
Right
2011[73]
Renaissance Party [74]
El Nahda[74]
Islamism , Salafism [72]
Right
Authenticity Party
El-Asala[72]
Islamism , Salafism
Far-right
2011[72]
People Party
El Shaab[75]
Islamism
Right
Unregistered
2012
Salafi Front
Egyptian Nation Party
El Omma el Masreya
Islamism , Salafism
Right
Unregistered
2012
Egypt the Future Party [76]
Masr el Mostaqbal
Moderate Islamism
Centrism [77]
2012[78]
Founded by Amr Khaled
New Labour Party [79]
El Amal el gadid[79]
Islamism , Salafist [79]
Strong Egypt Party [80]
Masr Al-Qaweya
Moderate Islamism
Centrist
Registered[81]
2012
Supported
Founded by Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh
Life Party
El Haya
Liberalism , Secularism , Coptic interests
Centrism
2011
2011
Supported
Founded by Coptic Activist Micheal Meunier
Egyptian Current Party
El Tayyar el Masri
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
Liberalism , Secularism , Liberal Democracy
Centrism
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
Islamism
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
Active Egyptian political alliances
Alliance name (English)
Alliance name (Arabic)
Political orientation
Religious orientation
Legal status
Founded
Member parties
Civil Democratic Movement [85]
Reform and Development Misruna Party , Socialist Popular Alliance Party , Constitution Party , Justice Party , Egyptian Social Democratic Party , Dignity Party , Freedom Egypt Party , Bread and Freedom Party [85]
Egypt [86]
Arab Democratic Nasserist Party , Arab Party for Justice and Equality , Democratic Generation Party , Democratic Peace Party , Egyptian Arab Socialist Party , Egyptian Patriotic Movement , My Homeland Egypt Party , Social Construction Party, Tomorrow Party , Victory Party , Voice of Egypt Party[86]
National Front Alliance [87]
تحالف الجبهة الوطنية
Egyptian Democratic, Nasserist Party , Future of Egypt Party, Dignity Party ,[88] Tagammu Party [89]
For the Love of Egypt [90]
Fee Hob Misr
Free Egyptians Party ,[90] New Wafd Party ,[91] Nation's Future Party ,[92] Conference Party ,[93] Conservative Party , Tamarod , Tomorrow Party , Sadat Democratic Party ,[94] Modern Egypt Party ,[95] Reform and Renaissance Party [96]
Call of Egypt [97]
Human Rights and Citizenship Party , We Are the People Party ,[97] New Independent Party ,[98] Arab Party for Justice and Equality , Homeland Defenders Party [99]
Independent Current Coalition [100]
Democratic Peace Party ,[101] Egyptian Arab Socialist Party [102]
Egyptian Front
Modern Egypt Party , Republican People's Party ,[103] National Party of Egypt , Egyptian Liberation Party ,[104] Tomorrow Party ,[105] Egyptian Patriotic Movement , My Homeland Egypt Party , Democratic Generation Party , Tomorrow Party [106]
Anti-Coup Alliance [107]
Islamist[108]
27 June 2013[108]
Building and Development Party , Freedom and Justice Party , New Labour Party , Virtue Party , Egyptian Reform Party , Authenticity Party , People Party [109]
Inactive Egyptian political alliances
Alliance name (English)
Alliance name (Arabic)
Political orientation
Religious orientation
Legal status
Founded
Member parties
Long Live Egypt [110]
New Dawn Party, Egyptian Revolution Party [111]
Social Justice Coalition [112]
Leftist [112]
National Association for Change , Nasserist People's Congress Party, National Conciliation Party ,[112] Revolution Egypt Party , Liberal Socialist Party, People Party, Democratic Union Party , Free Social Constitutional Party , Egypt's Future Party, Socialist Labour Party, Revolutionary Rescue Party,[113] Egyptian National Council, Greenpeace Movement, Coalition of Egyptians Abroad, National Youth Council,[114] Senior Nasserist Conference[115]
Civil Democratic Current [116]
Dignity Party , Constitution Party , Socialist Popular Alliance Party , Freedom Egypt Party ,[116] Popular Current Party ,[117] Bread and Freedom Party ,[118] Socialist Party of Egypt ,[119] Egyptian Social Democratic Party [120]
Reawakening of Egypt [121]
National Bloc ,[122] Socialist Party of Egypt ,[123] Egyptian Communist Party ,[124] Civil Democratic Current ,[125] Egyptian Democratic, Nasserist Party , Future of Egypt Party[88] Tagammu Party [89] [126] Socialist Popular Alliance Party ,[127] Justice Party ,[128] Reform and Renaissance Party [129]
Leftist Alliance [130]
Leftism[131]
Tagammu , Socialist Popular Alliance Party , Egyptian Communist Party , Socialist Party of Egypt [130]
Egypt's Unity [132]
وحدة مصر
Islamic Alliance to Support Egypt [133]
إسلاميون لدعم مصر
Free Front of the Islamic Group, Reform of the Islamic Group, Revolt of the Islamic Group, Brotherhood Dissidents, Brotherhood Without Violence[133]
National Alliance [134]
My Homeland Egypt Party ,[135] Egyptian Patriotic Movement , Democratic Generation Party ,[136] Egyptian Arab Socialist Party ,[102] Revolutionary Forces Bloc,[137] Free Egyptians Party [121]
Egyptian Wafd Alliance [138]
New Wafd Party , Reform and Development Misruna Party , Conservative Party , Consciousness Party ,[138] Arab Alliance Party, Arab Party for Justice and Equality ,[139] Reform and Renaissance Party ,[140]
Nation Alliance [141]
Flag Party , Egyptian Reform Party , Authenticity Party , People Party , Islamic Party , Virtue Party , New Labour Party [141]
Islamist coalition [142]
Islamist[142]
Egyptian Nation Party [142]
Centrist Coalition [143]
Unregistered
Civilization Party , Wasat Party [143]
Free Nation Coalition [43]
Islamist[43]
Unregistered
Homeland Party , Building and Development Party [144]
Independent Party Current [145]
Unregistered
Democratic Peace Party [145]
National Salvation Front [146]
Unregistered
Egyptian Social Democratic Party , New Wafd Party , Farmers General Syndicate[147] Constitution Party , Egyptian Popular Current , Socialist Popular Alliance Party [146] National Association for Change [148] National Progressive Unionist Party ,[149] Conference Party , Reform and Development Misruna Party , Dignity Party [150] Socialist Party of Egypt [151] Egypt's Future Party ,[152] Democratic Generation Party , Social Peace Party , Freedom Party ,[153] Freedom Egypt Party ,[154] Egyptian Communist Party [155] Free Egyptians Party , Arab Democratic Nasserist Party [156]
Coalition for the Defense of Sharia [157]
Islamist
Islamic
Unregistered
Freedom and Justice Party , Building and Development Party , Al Nour Party [158] Safety and Development Party , Authenticity Party , People Party ,[159] Egyptian Reform Party [160]
Civil Democratic Movement [161]
Secular[161]
Unregistered
Arab Democratic Nasserist Party , Democratic Front Party , Egyptian Communist Party , Free Egyptians Party , Freedom Egypt Party , Egyptian Green Party , Ghad El-Thawra Party , Life of the Egyptians Party ,Liberal Constitutional Party,Liberals Party, New Wafd Party , Socialist Popular Alliance Party , Young Egypt Party [161]
Egyptian Nation Alliance [162]
Social Liberalism , Liberal democracy ,
Big tent
Liberal
Unregistered
27 September 2012
Conference Party ,[163] New Wafd Party , Free Egyptians Party [164] Socialist Party of Egypt , Egyptian Communist Party , Socialist Popular Alliance Party , Socialist Revolutionary Movement (January) , Tagammu Party , Workers Democratic Party , Workers and Peasants Party , Egyptian Popular Current [165] Reform and Development Party [166] Egyptian Social Democratic Party [167] Egyptian Renaissance Party, Victory Party , Egyptian Liberation Party , Dignity Party [168]
Social Justice Coalition
Secular
Unregistered
Egyptian Social Democratic Party , Socialist Party of Egypt , Constitution Party ,Popular Coalition[77]
The Egyptian Bloc
الكتلة المصرية
Social Liberalism , Liberal democracy
Liberal
Registered
16 August 2011
Free Egyptians Party , Egyptian Social Democratic Party , Tagammu [169]
Revolutionary Democratic Coalition [170]
التحالف الديمقراطي الثوري
Leftism
Unregistered
19 September 2012
Socialist Party of Egypt , Tagammu Party , Workers and Peasants Party , Egyptian Communist Party , Egyptian Coalition to Fight Corruption, Socialist Revolutionary Movement (January), Socialist Youth Union, Mina Daniel Movement
Coalition of the People's Representatives [171] [172]
Unregistered
Egyptian Popular Current
التيار الشعبي المصري
Big tent[173]
Unregistered
21 September 2012
Moderate Current Coalition
Centrism
Moderate Islamism
Non-registered
Wasat Party , Egyptian Current , Strong Egypt , Civilization Party , Justice Party
Democratic Alliance for Egypt
التحالف الديمقراطي من أجل مصر
Nationalist , Islamist
Mainly Islamic
Registered
June 2011
Democratic Generation Party , Egyptian Arab Socialist Party , Ghad El-Thawra Party , Dignity Party , Labour Party , Ahrar Party , Egyptian Reform Party , Reform and Renaissance Party , Freedom and Justice Party ,Freedom and Development Party[174]
The Revolution Continues Alliance
تحالف الثورة مستمرة
Center-left
Mainly Secular
Registered
23 October 2011
Freedom Egypt Party , Egyptian Alliance Party , Equality and Development Party
Islamist Bloc
الكتلة الإسلامية
Far-right
Islamist (hardline Salafi )
Al Nour Party , Building and Development Party , Authenticity Party