Multi-party System in Egypt
Introduction
A discussion on party systems is based on the distinctions that exist between dominant one-party, two-party, and multiparty systems. Party families such as socialist, Christian democrat, agrarian, liberal, conservative, regional and ethnic parties, and other new parties characterize democracies of the world (Deth and Newton 276). Party systems have similar features as party families because they are based on the social and economic structure of society. Party systems such as two-part system, multi-party system, dominant one-party system exist as part of party families (Deth and Newton 276). Multi-party systems are evident in countries where governance is based on democracy.
Egypt is based on multi-party system (DIPD, par 2). After nearly 30 years of autocratic rule by President Hosni Mubarak, Egyptians engaged in a political revolution so that a new Multi-party system could be established in the country. For several years, a single-party system had dominated the country thereby leading to challenges in guaranteeing constitutional rights. The current system ensures that during elections, several parties have an equal chance of becoming part of the democratic system of government.
Rutherford (251) asserts that a transition period after removal of President Hosni Mubarak from power was full of challenges. Egypt expected multi-party system to guarantee democracy. However, the election of Muslim Brotherhood into power did not realize any democracy. Minority groups such as Christians were targeted. Despite showing interest towards democracy based on Multi-party system, challenges are still evident. The election of Fatah El-Sisi as the president of Egypt has led to crackdowns on Islamic groups viewed to be a threat to the security of Egypt. Democracy is not at its best since the participation of parties is still restricted.
The constitution recognizes a multi-party system after the Egyptian revolution of 2011. Within the multi-party system, no party should be formed based on religion or class. As a result, the current crackdown on Muslim Brotherhood is based on the law requiring that political parties should not represent the interest of a certain group such as Muslims. The need to protect any political party with the interest in the development of Sharia laws is necessary for Egypt. The existence of Christians in Egypt means that democracy should be allowed to thrive so that minority groups are not controlled by parties that have an interest in the establishment of Sharia laws (Rutherford 252).
Currently, Multi-party system in Egypt has over 100 political parties registered by the government. Political parties are based on their views and ideologies that concern challenges affecting Egypt and international circles. The constitution does not allow the formation of political parties so that religious interests can be represented. In particular, there are political parties created to avoid any chance of Egypt becoming a secular state (DIPD, par 3).
Egypt recognizes independent candidates that want to be the president of the country. As a multi-party system, Egypt ensures that persons who do not agree with party ideologies seek for elections. The current president Fatah El-Sisi won elections as an independent candidate. The other main political parties that form the multiparty system in Egypt include Free Egyptians Party, Nations Future Party, Republicans Peoples Party, Nour Party, and many more (European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity, par 5).
In 2015, Egyptians went to elections to elect their preferred leaders in a democratic system of government. Democracy as a new system that promises prosperity and stability in Egypt is based on equal representation of all Egyptians within the government. Parliamentary elections are aimed at improving the representation of all citizens in governance. As a result, President Fatah El-Sisi introduced a roadmap that would ensure that the country is not held hostage by Muslim Brotherhood Party, which is interested in the introduction of Sharia law while restricting freedom and rights of citizens (European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity, par 3).
Despite Egypt adopting the multi-party system of governance, there are also elements of coalitions within the political system. The president as an independent candidate needed a coalition of several parties to form a representative government that reflects the image and diversity of Egypt. The president formed a coalition of loyalists known as "for love of Egypt" which has over 120 part-based seats in the parliament (DIPD, par 5). The constitution recognizes independent candidates as part of the electoral system so that parties alone do not go to elections. As a result, the 2015 elections in Egypt led to a coalition of liberal free Egyptians party. Independent candidates in Egypt constitute over 448 seats as part of the majority in the parliament. In such systems, coalitions are necessary so that governance becomes successful.
Minority groups like women and Coptic Christians are still underrepresented in the parliament. The constitution does not allow the formation of parties that serve the interest of particular groups. However, there is need to encourage more independent candidates from minority groups so that representation does not become a major problem. The current political system is still under transition. Several challenges are still experienced in a country divided through religious ideologies aimed at excluding minorities from governance.
According to Klay and Agbese (118), during the dictatorship and one-party system rules in Egypt before the revolution, political parties obtained a license to engage in politics through lawsuits. In most cases, the judiciary as part of the one-party system government refused to grant permission to political parties that wanted to participate in national politics. The committee in Charge of Party affairs was also developed to ensure that formation of political parties is limited within Egypt. The current constitution which is under implementation recognizes the need to establish a multi-party system.
In a one-party system, Egypt had over 20 political parties. However, the existence of over 20 parties does not mean that multi-party system began before the 2011 revolution. The extreme imbalance between the ruling party NDP and other political parties meant that power was concentrated in the hands of rulers but not on citizens. The multi-party system ensures that Egyptians can create a political party and vote for the president who is likely to meet their interests (Klay and Agbese 118).
A multiparty system is also based on the need to finance political parties. Financial independence of parties within a multi-party state is based on government financial support. However, in a one-party state and aristocracy before the revolution, the ruling party from the state enjoyed all primary sources of money and finance (Klay and Agbese 118).
Conclusion
Egypt practices a multi-party system of governance since elections were held in 2015. The country has over 100 political parties that represent all groups in Egypt. Currently, the government is headed by a president who was elected as an independent candidate. As a result, the president needed a coalition to form a government that reflects the interest of all Egyptians. Coalition party systems based on multi-party democracy is part of the new transition period in Egypt whereby the country tries to eliminate the need to form political parties based on religion.
Works Cited
Deth, Van, and Newton Kenneth. “Foundations of comparative politics.” Second Edition.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 2010. Print.
DIPD. “Egypt.” Danish Institute for parties and Democracy. 2016. Web. 07 Apr. 2016
<http://dipd.dk/partnerships/egypt/>
European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity. “Egypt.” Europeanforum.net. 2016. Web. 07 Apr. 2016 <http://www.europeanforum.net/country/egypt>
Klay, George, and Agbese Pita. “Reconstructing the Authoritarian State in Africa.” London:
Routledge. 2013. Print.
Rutherford, Bruce. “Egypt after Mubarak: liberalism, Islam, and democracy in the Arab World.”
New Jersey: Princeton University Press. 2013. Print.
