National Democratic Party (Egypt)
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National Democratic Party
الحزب الوطني الديمقراطي |
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| Historical leaders |
Anwar Sadat (1978—1981) Hosni Mubarak (1981—2011) Talaat Sadat (2011) |
| Founded | 2 October 1978 |
| Dissolved | 16 April 2011 |
| Preceded by | Arab Socialist Union |
| Succeeded by | Union Party |
| Headquarters | Cairo, Egypt |
| Newspaper | National Day |
| Ideology | Egyptian nationalism, Authoritarianism, Centrism, Catch-all |
| Political position | Centre with Authoritarian elements |
| International affiliation | Socialist International (1989–2011) |
| Website | |
| www |
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The National Democratic Party (Arabic: الحزب الوطني الديمقراطي Al-Ḥizb Al-Waṭanī Ad-Dīmūqrāṭī), often simply called in 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, in response to the revolution.
The party was dissolved on 16 April 2011 by court order, and its assets were transferred to the state.
The electoral system in Egypt under which the National Democratic Party operated did not meet internationally recognized standards of electoral democracies. According to the Freedom House, the political system is designed to ensure solid majorities for the ruling NDP at all levels of government. In 2009, Dr. Ali El Deen Hilal Dessouki, Media Secretary of the NDP, described Egypt as a "pharaonic" political system, and democracy as a "long-term goal". Dessouki also stated that "the real center of power in Egypt is the military". And in the case of Egypt, although former President Hosni Mubarak himself boasted shortly before his deposition from power that Egypt enjoys "all kinds of democracy," substantive democracy and civil liberties within the country remain elusive. "The truth of the matter is that participation and pluralism are now at lower levels than at any time since Mubarak assumed the presidency in the wake of Anwar Sadat's assassination."
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Wikipedia