Template:Infobox political party
The al-Wasat Party (Template:Langx), translated in English as the Center Party, is a moderate Islamist political party in Egypt.[1]
History
Foundation
The party was founded by Abou Elela Mady in 1996 as a split from the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt,[2] which Mady accused of having "narrow political horizons." The creation of al-Wasat was criticized by the Brotherhood, which said Mady was trying to split the movement.[3] It was also not well received by the Egyptian government, which brought its founders before a military court on the charge of setting up a party as an Islamist front.
Al-Wasat tried to gain an official license four times between 1996 and 2009, but its application was rejected each time by the political parties committee, which was chaired by a leading member of the ruling National Democratic Party.[3] Political parties formed on the basis of religion have been banned by the Egyptian constitution since an amendment to Article 5 was approved in 2007.[4]
Recognition
Al-Wasat was granted official recognition on 19 February 2011 after a court in Cairo approved its establishment. The court's ruling was handed down in the wake of the Egyptian Revolution of 2011, and made al-Wasat the first new party to gain official status after the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak.[5] Its newly acquired official status allowed al-Wasat to compete in the next parliamentary election, and made it the first legal party in Egypt with an Islamic background.[6][7]
2011/2012 parliamentary election
The party initially was part of the Democratic Alliance for Egypt, though it left in October 2011[8] and later allied with the Renaissance Party and the Pioneer Party, both of which were also offshoots of the Muslim Brotherhood,[9] and won 10 seats.[10]
Post-coup d'etat
The leader of the party, Abou Elela Mady, as well as deputy head Essam Sultan, were detained following the 2013 Egyptian coup d'état.[11] Elela Mady was released in August 2015.[12]
The party withdrew from the Anti-Coup Alliance on 28 August 2014.[13] A court case was brought forth to dissolve the party,[14] though the Alexandria Urgent Matters Court ruled on 26 November 2014 that it lacked jurisdiction.[15]
Ideology
According to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, al-Wasat "seeks to interpret Islamic sharia principles in a manner consistent with the values of a liberal democratic system. Although al-Wasat advocates a political system that is firmly anchored in Islamic law, it also views sharia principles as flexible and wholly compatible with the principles of pluralism and equal citizenship rights."[16] The party's manifesto accepts the right of a Christian to become head of state in a Muslim-majority country.[6] Its founder Mady likens its ideology to that of the Turkish Justice and Development Party (AKP).[3]
Electoral history
People's Assembly elections
| Election | Seats | +/– |
|---|---|---|
| 2011–12 | Template:Composition bar | Template:Increase 10 |
See also
References
- ↑ Egypt Elections – Carnegie Endowment For International Peace, Guide to Egypt's Transition, "Al-Wasat (Center Party)". Template:Webarchive Retrieved 31 January 2012
- ↑ Mapping Islamic Actors in Egypt. Islam Research Program(March 2012). Retrieved 6 October 2014.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 New party shows deep political change in new Egypt. Reuters(19 February 2011). Retrieved 10 January 2026.
- ↑ Constitutional Amendments of 2007. Cabinet of Egypt. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
- ↑ After 15-year wait, Egypt's Wasat Party approved. Reuters(19 February 2011). Retrieved 19 February 2011.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Egypt court approves country's first Islamic party. Indo-Asian News Service(19 February 2011). Retrieved 19 February 2011.
- ↑ Egypt licenses first moderate Islamic party. The Jerusalem Post({Template:Date).
- ↑ Wasat Party. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
- ↑ Al-Wasat Party(18 November 2011). Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ↑ Egypt's post-Mubarak legislative life begins amid tension and divisions(23 January 2012). Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ↑ Wasat Party initially boycotting constitutional referendums(17 December 2013). Retrieved 17 December 2013.
- ↑ Pro-Morsi political leader Abul-Ela Madi released from jail(13 August 2015). Retrieved 19 December 2025.
- ↑ Wasat Party withdraws from NASL, considers parliamentary elections: Source(28 August 2014). Retrieved 28 August 2014.
- ↑ Political Islam's Fate in Egypt Lies in the Hands of the Courts. Atlantic Council(25 November 2014). Retrieved 10 January 2026.
- ↑ Court claims no jurisdiction over religiously affiliated parties. Daily News Egypt(26 November 2014). Retrieved 1 December 2014.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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Further reading
- Remaking Muslim Politics: Pluralism, Contestation, and Democratization{{#if:Norton|, Norton}. Princeton University Press(2005)
- The Path to Moderation: Strategy and Learning in the Formation of Egypt's Wasat Party. Comparative Politics({Template:Date).
External links
Template:Egyptian political parties Template:Authority control