One of the oldest Egyptian parties still in existence, al-Tagammu is a leftist party in serious decline under an aging leadership, struggling to find its place in a changing environment. Before the 2011 uprising, it had become increasingly reconciled with the Mubarak regime. After the uprising, it first joined the Democratic Alliance but left to become a founding member of the Egypt Bloc.

al-Tagammu Party was established in 1976 by former Free Officer Khaled Moheiddin. A diverse coalition of former Nasserites, Marxists, and Arab nationalists, al-Tagammu advocated the establishment of a socialist society through the process of popular participation. The party has since moderated its position and lost the support it once had among intellectuals, labor union leaders, and workers.

In an attempt to reverse the party’s declining fortunes, in 1984 al-Tagammu tried to reach out to Islamist constituencies. After the fall of the Soviet Union and the decline of socialism worldwide, it took a more conciliatory attitude toward the old regime and was allowed to win five seats in the 2010 elections. After the uprising, the party is still struggling to find its niche.

Platform:
Political Issues:

• Maintaining a strong state to protect its citizens from economic exploitation
• Advocating democracy as the only guarantor to stability and the peaceful transfer of power

Socio-economic Issues:

• Calling for the nationalization of major industries and resources so that they belong to the Egyptian citizens
• Supporting redistribution of wealth to achieve social justice
• Opposing continuation of Mubarak-era privatization to push for economic reform

Foreign Policy Issues:

• Calling for solidarity amongst all Arab nations
• Rejecting American and Israeli imperialism in the Middle East

Parliamentary Representation:

People’s Assembly Elections

2010: 5 seats

2005: 2 seats

2000: 6 seats

1995: 5 seats

1990: 5 seats

1984: 0 seats

1979: 0 seats

Shura Council Elections

2010: 1 seat (fielded 11 candidates)

2007: 2 seats

2004: 1 seat

Major Party Figures:
Mohammed Rifat al-Saeed: Chairman
Sayyid ‘Abd al-‘Aal: Secretary General
Hussein Abdel-Razek: Head of the Political Bureau
Farida al-Naqash: Editor in chief of the party’s newspaper, al-Ahali

Websites:
http://www.al-ahaly.com/ (newspaper)
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=9586279750 (Facebook)

From Guide to Egypt’s Transition, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace:http://egyptelections.carnegieendowment.org/2011/09/22/al-tagammu-national-progressive-unionist-party

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