Constitution Party (Egypt)
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The Constitution Party ( ar-at, حزب الدستور, Ḥizb el-Dostour) is a political party in Egypt. Founded by Nobel Peace Prize laureate
Mohammad ElBaradei Mohamed Mustafa ElBaradei ( ar, محمد مصطفى البرادعي, Muḥammad Muṣṭafá al-Barādaʿī, ; born 17 June 1942) is an Egyptian law scholar and Foreign relations of Egypt, diplomat who served as the vice president of Egypt on an ...
in 2012, it aims to protect and promote the principles and objectives of the
2011 Egyptian revolution The 2011 Egyptian revolution, also known as the 25 January revolution ( ar, ثورة ٢٥ يناير; ), began on 25 January 2011 and spread across Egypt. The date was set by various youth groups to coincide with the annual Egyptian "Police ho ...
, according to liberal ideals.


Background

The party was launched on 28 April 2012 by Mohammad ElBaradei and a group of Egyptian intellectuals and activists. ElBaradei described that the aim of the party was "to save the great 25 January revolution, which has been derailed and is almost aborted, and to restore our unity." The party was seen as a moderate force to counter emerging Islamist gains. ElBaradei said that he intended to increase the party's base for the next election in four years time. The party aims to unite all Egyptians, regardless of creed or ideology, behind democracy. ElBaradei hoped the party would attract, in particular, the young people who were behind the uprising that toppled President Mubarak. The Constitution Party has attracted a youthful membership, with over 85% of its membership being under the age of 35. Youth leaders of the Constitution Party have at times expressed differences with party leadership, contributing to the internal dynamics influencing the party's development. The Constitution Party supported the
Tamarod Tamarod ( ar, تـمـرد, tamarrud, "rebellion") was an Egyptian grassroots movement that was founded to register opposition to President Mohamed Morsi and force him to call early presidential elections. The goal was to collect 15 million sig ...
movement and the removal of President Mohamed Morsi in June 2013. ElBaradei was appointed interim vice president by Adly Mansour but resigned one month later, in August 2013, over the use of violence against pro-Muslim Brotherhood protesters. The resignation led to distancing between the Constitution Party and the party founder. A number of Constitution leaders resigned from the party after ElBaradei's resignation from the interim vice presidency. ElBaradei is no longer involved with the party though he was named honorary president of the party on 22 February 2014. The former spokesman of the party,
Khaled Dawoud Khaled Dawoud is the former leader of the Constitution Party of Egypt. Dawoud has been a journalist for Al-Ahram Weekly since 1996. Dawoud resigned as a spokesperson for the National Salvation Front (NSF) on 16 August 2013 in protest at the sup ...
, was stabbed on 4 October 2013. A day later his condition had improved. The party announced an official neutral position on the January 2014 constitutional referendum but strongly encouraged Egyptians to participate. Hala Shukrallah was elected to lead the Constitution Party in February 2014, becoming both the first woman and first Christian to lead a major Egyptian party. The party endorsed Hamdeen Sabahi in the 2014 presidential election.


Platform

The Constitution Party "aims to build a new Egypt based on democratic governance, education, competence, experience and the rule of law." Respect for human rights, advancing the Egyptian economy, providing for the basic needs of citizens, and advancing social equality are among the party's primary goals. The principles of the party are summarized in its slogan, "Bread, Freedom, and Social Justice." Principles of the Party *Citizenship and wise governance. *The State's role in economic development. *The State's responsibility for social justice. *Peaceful Political Activism. *Self-reliance, Preservation of identity and openness to the world.


Leaders


Prominent figures

*
Mohammad ElBaradei Mohamed Mustafa ElBaradei ( ar, محمد مصطفى البرادعي, Muḥammad Muṣṭafá al-Barādaʿī, ; born 17 June 1942) is an Egyptian law scholar and Foreign relations of Egypt, diplomat who served as the vice president of Egypt on an ...
, founding member and honorary president *
George Ishak George Ishak ( arz, جورج إسحق) is an Egyptian politician and activist. During the later part of Hosni Mubarak's presidency, he co-founded the grassroots Kefaya opposition movement. Following the 2011 Egyptian Revolution that toppled Mub ...
, founding member *
Emad Abou Ghazi Imad (also transliterated as Emad, Imed and Aimad ar, عماد) is an Arabic masculine given name and surname and means "support" or "pillar". Given name * Imād ad-Dīn Muhammad bin Qasim, Umayyad Caliphate general * Imad Abbas, Palestinian ...
, founding member *Mohamed Soliman, founding member *
Ahmed Harara Ahmed Hararah (Egyptian Arabic: "أحمد محمد علي البلاسي "حرارة, born February 11, 1980) is an Egyptian political activist who was blinded in both eyes in separate protesting incidents during the 2011 Egyptian Revolution. He ...
, founding member *
Mohamed Yousri Salama Mohamed Yousri Salama ( ar, محمد يسري سلامة; 1 October 1974 – 24 March 2013) was an Egyptian politician, writer and activist. Early life and education Salama was born in Alexandria on 1 October 1974. He was the son of a professor ...
, founding member *
Gameela Ismail Gameela Ismail (Arabic: جميله اسماعيل ) (born 1966) is the president of Al Dostour party, Egyptian politician, rights advocate, activist, media innovator and former television presenter. She was actively involved in calling for and par ...
, founding member *
Hossam Eissa Hossam or Hussam or Hosam or Husam (; ar, حسام) is an Arabic/Semitic male given name and surname. It means the sharp sword or a cutting blade. In some traditions it translates to "sword of justice" or "sword that divides justice and injustice". ...
, founding member *
Khaled Dawoud Khaled Dawoud is the former leader of the Constitution Party of Egypt. Dawoud has been a journalist for Al-Ahram Weekly since 1996. Dawoud resigned as a spokesperson for the National Salvation Front (NSF) on 16 August 2013 in protest at the sup ...
, former spokesman for the Constitution Party. * Hala Shukrallah, elected to lead the party in February 2014. *
Tarek Hussein Tarek Hussein is an Egyptian lawyer. He was born in 1993. He worked as a lawyer and a founding member of the Constitution Party and one of the party's young leaders. Early life Hussein was born in 1993 in one of the villages in Qalyubia. He ...
, Deputy head for Committee of rights and freedoms.


See also

* List of political parties in Egypt


References


External links

*
Dostour Party Founders list
{{Egyptian political parties 2012 establishments in Egypt Egyptian democracy movements Liberal parties in Egypt Political parties established in 2012