National Democratic Party (Egypt)
The National Democratic Party (Arabic: الحزب الوطني الديمقراطي Al-Ḥizb Al-Waṭaniy Ad-Dīmūqrāṭiy), often simply called Arabic: الحزب الوطني Al-Ḥizb al-Waṭaniy – the "National Party", was an Egyptian political party. It was founded by President Anwar El Sadat in 1978.
The NDP wielded uncontested power in state politics, usually considered a de facto single party with authoritarian characteristics inside an officially multi-party system, from its creation until the resignation of Sadat's successor Hosni Mubarak in response to the Egyptian Revolution of 2011.
The National Democratic Party was an authoritarian centrist party. From its inception, it was by far the most powerful of the parties to emerge from the Arab Socialist Union (ASU), the former ruling sole party since 1962, and was as such seen as its organic successor. However, in contrast to ASU's strong emphasis on Arab nationalism and Arab socialism (see: Nasserism), the NDP developed into a moderate centrist party. The NDP was a member of the Socialist International from 1989, until it was expelled in 2011, also in response to the revolution.
The party was dissolved on 16 April 2011 by court order, and its assets were transferred to the state.
Read more about National Democratic Party (Egypt): Electoral System in Egypt, Ideology
Famous quotes containing the words national, democratic and/or party:
“I would dodge, not lie, in the national interest.”
—Larry Speakes (b. 1939)
“The democratic youth ... lives along day by day, gratifying the desire that occurs to him, at one time drinking and listening to the flute, at another downing water and reducing, now practising gymnastic, and again idling and neglecting everything; and sometimes spending his time as though he were occupied in philosophy.”
—Plato (c. 427–347 B.C.)
“The reason Milton wrote in fetters when he wrote of Angels & God, and at liberty when of Devils & Hell, is because he was a true Poet, and of the Devil’s party without knowing it.”
—William Blake (1757–1827)