The Egyptian Communist Party (ECP; Arabic: الحزب الشيوعي المصري) is a revolutionary Marxist–Leninist communist party in Egypt.
Egyptian Communist Party الحزب الشيوعي المصري | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General Secretary | Salah Adli[1] |
| Founded | 1975 |
| Headquarters | Cairo |
| Newspaper | Victory |
| Ideology | |
| Political position | Far-left |
| National affiliation | |
| International affiliation | IMCWP |
| Colours | Red |
| House of Representatives | 0 / 567 |
History and profile
editThe modern Egyptian Communist Party (ECP) was formed in 1975[2] by a number of members of the former Egyptian Communist Party. Under the regimes of Presidents Anwar Sadat and Hosni Mubarak the new Communist Party faced state repression and was barred from running in elections. The party however continued to operate underground until the overthrow of Mubarak in 2011.[3] In the years leading up to the 2011 uprising, the ECP, along with other leftist political organizations, faced many challenges, including government repression, internal divisions, and lack of popular support.[4] Despite having ECP members allegedly killed and imprisoned under Mubarak, the party have since been involved in mobilizing workers in 2011.[5]
On 1 May 2011, the ECP announced they would openly resume activities. In a news conference at Tahrir Square, the party Chairman, Salah al-Adly announced this. He also recounted that in previous decades the party members had been repeatedly repressed and falsely accused of criminal activity and atheism.[6]
On 10 May 2011, the ECP agreed to enter into a "socialist front" with four other Egyptian leftist groups called the Coalition of Socialist Forces, which includes the Revolutionary Socialists, the Socialist Popular Alliance Party, Socialist Party of Egypt and the Workers Democratic Party.[7] It also joined the National Salvation Front.[8]
The party also maintains ties with Vietnam, as members of the ECP met with a reporter at the Communist Review in late 2022. Both groups wanted to grow their relationship and maintain communication channels that allow mutual support between the groups.[9] The CIA also alleges ties between the ECP and Russia through Michel Kamil, a journalist and ECP leader.[10]
The ECP also signed a letter along with other leftist parties from across the globe to address their concerns with the developments in Iran since December 2022. In October 2022, these parties held the International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties (IMCWP) where they expressed their solidarity with persecuted communists in Iran and their disproval of the dictatorial regimes. [11]
The party maintains a social media presence on Twitter and Facebook.[12][13]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Egypt's Secular Forces: Emerging Secular Coalitions and Parties", Guide to Egypt's Transition, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 25 November 2012, archived from the original on 29 December 2013, retrieved 13 December 2013
- ^ "A Partial Guide to the Egyptian Political Parties". Connected in Cairo. 15 November 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ^ "Communist Party of Egypt resumes open political activities". Links International Journal of Socialist Renewalaccessdate=28 April 2011.
- ^ Joel Beinin. (2015). Workers and Thieves : Labor Movements and Popular Uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt. Stanford Briefs
- ^ "In solidarity with heroic struggle of the Egyptian people". Communist Party of Australia. 9 February 2011. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
- ^ "Egypt's Communist Party goes public at Labor Day celebrations". Egypt Independent. 2011-05-01. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
- ^ "Five socialist parties unite to impact Egyptian politics". Ahram Online. 11 May 2011. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
- ^ Live updates 2: Millions on streets for anti-Morsi protests; 4 dead in Upper Egypt, Ahram Online, 30 June 2013, retrieved 12 December 2013
- ^ "Communist Review delegation meets political parties in Egypt". VietnamPlus. 2022-11-15. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
- ^ Egypt: The Left and Its Foreign Supporters. An Intelligence Memorandum Central Intelligence Agency- National Foreign Assessment Center 2008
- ^ "The international communist movement supports protests in Iran". Morning Star. 2023-01-12. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
- ^ "Egyptian Communist Party". Twitter.
- ^ "الحزب الشيوعي المصري The Egyptian Communist Party". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2023-05-08.