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{{Infobox political party
{{Infobox political party
| name = New Center Party
| name             = New Center Party
| native_name = حزب الوسط الجديد<br />Hizb al-Wasat al-Jadid
| native_name     = حزب الوسط الجديد<br />Hizb al-Wasat al-Jadid
| native_name_lang = ar
| native_name_lang = ar
| logo = Wasat Party, Egypt.png
| logo             = Wasat Party, Egypt.png
| colorcode = #960018
| colorcode       = #960018
| president = Mohamed Abdel Latif (acting)<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.youm7.com/story/2014/11/24/%D8%AD%D8%B2%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%B7--%D9%85%D8%B8%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-28-%D9%86%D9%88%D9%81%D9%85%D8%A8%D8%B1-%D8%AE%D8%B7%D9%88%D8%A9-%D8%BA%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D9%85%D9%88%D9%81%D9%82%D8%A9-%D9%88%D9%84%D9%86-%D9%86%D8%B4%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%83-%D9%81%D9%8A%D9%87%D8%A7/1964350#.VHN8fmdNfSc|title=حزب الوسط: مظاهرات 28 نوفمبر خطوة غير موفقة ولننشارك فيها|agency=Youm7|date=24 November 2014|access-date=24 November 2014}}</ref><br />[[Abou Elela Mady]]
| president       = Mohamed Abdel Latif (acting)<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.youm7.com/story/2014/11/24/%D8%AD%D8%B2%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%B7--%D9%85%D8%B8%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-28-%D9%86%D9%88%D9%81%D9%85%D8%A8%D8%B1-%D8%AE%D8%B7%D9%88%D8%A9-%D8%BA%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D9%85%D9%88%D9%81%D9%82%D8%A9-%D9%88%D9%84%D9%86-%D9%86%D8%B4%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%83-%D9%81%D9%8A%D9%87%D8%A7/1964350#.VHN8fmdNfSc|title=حزب الوسط: مظاهرات 28 نوفمبر خطوة غير موفقة ولننشارك فيها|agency=Youm7|date=24 November 2014|access-date=24 November 2014}}</ref><br />[[Abou Elela Mady]]
| leader1_title = Vice-President
| leader1_title   = Vice-President
| leader1_name = [[Essam Sultan]]
| leader1_name     = [[Essam Sultan]]
| leader2_title = Vice-President
| leader2_title   = Vice-President
| leader2_name = [[Mohamed Mahsoub]]
| leader2_name     = [[Mohamed Mahsoub]]
| leader3_title = Secretary-General
| leader3_title   = Secretary-General
| leader3_name = [[Mohammed Abdul-Latif]]
| leader3_name     = [[Mohammed Abdul-Latif]]
| leader4_title = Spokesperson
| leader4_title   = Spokesperson
| leader4_name = [[Amr Farouk]]
| leader4_name     = [[Amr Farouk]]
| slogan = الوطن قبل الوسط<br />Motherland before Al-wasat
| slogan           = الوطن قبل الوسط<br />Motherland before Al-wasat
| founded = {{Start date|1996}}
| split            = [[Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://carnegieendowment.org/files/cp_67_grayzones_final.pdf|page=18|title=Islamist Movements and the Democratic Process in the Arab World: Exploring the Gray Zones|work=Herbert Quandt Stiftung|year=2006}}</ref>
| legalized = 19 February 2011
| founded         = {{Start date|1996}}
| dissolved = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| legalized       = 19 February 2011
| headquarters = 8 Pearl St., [[Mokattam]], [[Cairo]]
| dissolved       = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| membership_year = 2011
| headquarters     = 8 Pearl St., [[Mokattam]], [[Cairo]]
| membership = 5.088<ref name=KAS>{{cite web |title=Länderbericht Parteienmonitor Ägypten 2011 |url=http://www.kas.de/wf/doc/kas_29524-1522-1-30.pdf |publisher=[[Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung]] |language=de |page=3 |date=27 November 2011 |access-date=18 October 2015}}</ref>
| membership_year = 2011
| ideology = [[Islamism|Moderate islamism]]<ref>[http://www.aucegypt.edu/gapp/cairoreview/pages/articleDetails.aspx?aid=100 The Cairo Review of Global Affairs, "Egypt Elections: al-Wasat (Center Party)"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130235012/http://www.aucegypt.edu/GAPP/CairoReview/Pages/articleDetails.aspx?aid=100 |date=30 January 2012 }}. Retrieved 31 January 2012</ref><br />[[Centrism]]<ref name="Almasry Alyoum">{{Cite journal|last=el-Karanshawi|first=Shaimaa|date=19 February 2011|title=Egypt court approves moderate Islamic party|journal=[[Almasry Alyoum]]|access-date=20 February 2011|url=http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/323634}}</ref>
| position        = [[Centrism|Centre]]<ref name="Almasry Alyoum">{{Cite web|author=Shaimaa el-Karanshawi|date=19 February 2011|title=Egypt court approves moderate Islamic party|work=[[Almasry Alyoum]]|access-date=10 January 2026|url=http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/323634|archive-date=4 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104092809/http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/323634}}</ref>
| national =  
| membership       = 5.088<ref name=KAS>{{cite web |title=Länderbericht Parteienmonitor Ägypten 2011 |url=http://www.kas.de/wf/doc/kas_29524-1522-1-30.pdf |publisher=[[Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung]] |language=de |page=3 |date=27 November 2011 |access-date=18 October 2015}}</ref>
| colors = Maroon
| ideology         = [[Islamic democracy]]<ref>[http://www.aucegypt.edu/gapp/cairoreview/pages/articleDetails.aspx?aid=100 The Cairo Review of Global Affairs, "Egypt Elections: al-Wasat (Center Party)"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130235012/http://www.aucegypt.edu/GAPP/CairoReview/Pages/articleDetails.aspx?aid=100 |date=30 January 2012 }}. Retrieved 31 January 2012</ref>
| country = Egypt
| national         =  
| seats1_title = [[House of Representatives (Egypt)|House of Representatives]]
| colors           = Maroon
| seats1 = {{Composition bar|0|568}}
| country         = Egypt
| website =  
| seats1_title     = [[House of Representatives (Egypt)|House of Representatives]]
| seats1           = {{Composition bar|0|568}}
| website         =  
}}
}}


The '''al-Wasat Party''' ({{lang-ar-at|حزب الوسط|Hizb al-Wasat}}), translated in English as the '''Center Party''', is a moderate [[Islamist]] political party in [[Egypt]].<ref>[http://egyptelections.carnegieendowment.org/2010/09/16/center-al-wasat-party Egypt Elections – Carnegie Endowment For International Peace, Guide to Egypt's Transition, "Al-Wasat (Center Party)".] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130141131/http://egyptelections.carnegieendowment.org/2010/09/16/center-al-wasat-party |date=30 January 2012 }} Retrieved 31 January 2012</ref>
The '''al-Wasat Party''' ({{langx|ar|حزب الوسط|Hizb al-Wasat}}), translated in English as the '''Center Party''', is a moderate [[Islamist]] political party in [[Egypt]].<ref>[http://egyptelections.carnegieendowment.org/2010/09/16/center-al-wasat-party Egypt Elections – Carnegie Endowment For International Peace, Guide to Egypt's Transition, "Al-Wasat (Center Party)".] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130141131/http://egyptelections.carnegieendowment.org/2010/09/16/center-al-wasat-party |date=30 January 2012 }} Retrieved 31 January 2012</ref>


The party withdrew from the [[Anti-Coup Alliance]] on 28 August 2014.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://thecairopost.com/news/123570/inside_egypt/wasat-party-withdraws-from-nasl-considers-parliamentary-elections-source|title=Wasat Party withdraws from NASL, considers parliamentary elections: Source|agency=Cairo Post|date=28 August 2014|access-date=28 August 2014}}</ref> A court case was brought forth to dissolve the party,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/egyptsource/political-islam-s-fate-in-egypt-lies-in-the-hands-of-the-courts|title=Political Islam's Fate in Egypt Lies in the Hands of the Courts|first=Yussef|last=Auf|date=25 November 2014|work=Atlantic Council|access-date=1 December 2014}}</ref> though the Alexandria Urgent Matters Court ruled on 26 November 2014 that it lacked jurisdiction.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2014/11/26/court-claims-jurisdiction-religiously-affiliated-parties/|title=Court claims no jurisdiction over religiously affiliated parties|date=26 November 2014|work=Daily News Egypt|access-date=1 December 2014}}</ref>
== History ==
=== Foundation ===
== Foundation ==
The party was founded by [[Abou Elela Mady]] in 1996 as a split from the [[Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt]],<ref name=map>{{cite web|author=Dina Shehata|title=Mapping Islamic Actors in Egypt|url=http://media.leidenuniv.nl/legacy/mapping-islamic-actors---version-2.2.pdf|publisher=Islam Research Program|access-date=6 October 2014|date=March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927043841/http://media.leidenuniv.nl/legacy/mapping-islamic-actors---version-2.2.pdf|archive-date=27 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Reuters">{{Cite news|title=New party shows deep political change in new Egypt|author=Sarah Mikhail|author2=Tom Perry|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-egypt-idUSTRE70O3UW20110219|work=[[Reuters]]|date=19 February 2011|access-date=10 January 2026|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110220043329/https://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/19/us-egypt-idUSTRE70O3UW20110219| archive-date=20 February 2011|url-status= live}}</ref> It was also not well received by the Egyptian government, which brought its founders before a [[Military tribunal|military court]] on the charge of setting up a party as an Islamist front.
The party was founded by [[Abou Elela Mady]] in 1996,<ref name=map>{{cite web|author=Dina Shehata|title=Mapping Islamic Actors in Egypt|url=http://media.leidenuniv.nl/legacy/mapping-islamic-actors---version-2.2.pdf|publisher=Islam Research Program|access-date=6 October 2014|date=March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927043841/http://media.leidenuniv.nl/legacy/mapping-islamic-actors---version-2.2.pdf|archive-date=27 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Reuters">{{Cite news|title=New party shows deep political change in new Egypt|author=Mikhail, Sarah|author2=Perry, Tom|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-egypt-idUSTRE70O3UW20110219|work=[[Reuters]]|date=19 February 2011|access-date=19 February 2011|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110220043329/https://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/19/us-egypt-idUSTRE70O3UW20110219| archive-date=20 February 2011|url-status= live}}</ref> It was also not well received by the Egyptian government, which brought its founders before a [[Military tribunal|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 (Egypt)|National Democratic Party]].<ref name="Reuters"/> Political parties formed on the basis of religion have been banned by the [[Constitution of Egypt|Egyptian constitution]] since an amendment to Article 5 was [[2007 Egyptian constitutional referendum|approved in 2007]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cabinet.gov.eg/AboutEgypt/HTML/Constit_update2007_e.pdf |title=Constitutional Amendments of 2007 |publisher=[[Cabinet of Egypt]]  |access-date=19 February 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101217033527/http://cabinet.gov.eg/AboutEgypt/HTML/Constit_update2007_e.pdf |archive-date=17 December 2010 }}</ref> The leader of the party, [[Abou Elela Mady]], as well as deputy head Essam Sultan, have been detained following the [[2013 Egyptian coup d'état]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Wasat Party initially boycotting constitutional referendums|url=http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2013/12/17/wasat-party-initially-boycotting-constitutional-referendum/|agency=Daily News Egypt|date=17 December 2013|access-date=17 December 2013}}</ref>
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 (Egypt)|National Democratic Party]].<ref name="Reuters"/> Political parties formed on the basis of religion have been banned by the [[Constitution of Egypt|Egyptian constitution]] since an amendment to Article 5 was [[2007 Egyptian constitutional referendum|approved in 2007]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cabinet.gov.eg/AboutEgypt/HTML/Constit_update2007_e.pdf |title=Constitutional Amendments of 2007 |publisher=[[Cabinet of Egypt]]  |access-date=19 February 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101217033527/http://cabinet.gov.eg/AboutEgypt/HTML/Constit_update2007_e.pdf |archive-date=17 December 2010 }}</ref>


===Recognition===
=== 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 Hosni Mubarak|resignation]] of [[President of Egypt|President]] [[Hosni Mubarak]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=After 15-year wait, Egypt's Wasat Party approved|author=Tom Perry|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/egypt-politics-party-idUSLDE71I06320110219|work=[[Reuters]]|date=19 February 2011|access-date=19 February 2011}}</ref> Its newly acquired official status allowed al-Wasat to compete in the [[2011 Egyptian parliamentary election|next parliamentary election]], and made it the first legal party in Egypt with an Islamic background.<ref name="IANS">{{Cite news|title=Egypt court approves country's first Islamic party |url=http://www.sify.com/news/egypt-court-approves-country-s-first-islamic-party-news-international-lctu4fiafed.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110222195317/http://www.sify.com/news/egypt-court-approves-country-s-first-islamic-party-news-international-lctu4fiafed.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 February 2011 |format=Reprint|work=[[Indo-Asian News Service]]|date=19 February 2011|access-date=19 February 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|date=19 February 2011 |title=Egypt licenses first moderate Islamic party|journal=[[The Jerusalem Post]] |access-date=20 February 2011|url=http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=208916|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110219124334/http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=208916|archive-date=19 February 2011 |url-status= live}}</ref>
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 Hosni Mubarak|resignation]] of [[President of Egypt|President]] [[Hosni Mubarak]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=After 15-year wait, Egypt's Wasat Party approved|author=Tom Perry|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/egypt-politics-party-idUSLDE71I06320110219|work=[[Reuters]]|date=19 February 2011|access-date=19 February 2011}}</ref> Its newly acquired official status allowed al-Wasat to compete in the [[2011 Egyptian parliamentary election|next parliamentary election]], and made it the first legal party in Egypt with an Islamic background.<ref name="IANS">{{Cite news|title=Egypt court approves country's first Islamic party |url=http://www.sify.com/news/egypt-court-approves-country-s-first-islamic-party-news-international-lctu4fiafed.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110222195317/http://www.sify.com/news/egypt-court-approves-country-s-first-islamic-party-news-international-lctu4fiafed.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 February 2011 |format=Reprint|work=[[Indo-Asian News Service]]|date=19 February 2011|access-date=19 February 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|date=19 February 2011 |title=Egypt licenses first moderate Islamic party|journal=[[The Jerusalem Post]] |access-date=20 February 2011|url=https://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=208916|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110219124334/http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=208916|archive-date=19 February 2011 |url-status= live}}</ref>
 
=== 2011/2012 parliamentary election ===
The party initially was part of the [[Democratic Alliance for Egypt]], though it left in October 2011<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://carnegieendowment.org/posts/2010/09/wasat-party?lang=en|title=Wasat Party|work=[[Carnegie Endowment for International Peace]] |access-date=10 January 2026}}</ref> and later allied with the [[Renaissance Party (Egypt)|Renaissance Party]] and the [[Pioneer Party]], both of which were also offshoots of the Muslim Brotherhood,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jadaliyya.com/Details/24640/Al-Wasat-Party|title=Al-Wasat Party|work=Jadaliyya|date=18 November 2011|access-date=26 January 2026}}</ref> and won 10 seats.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/33/100/32384/Elections-/News/Egypts-postMubarak-legislative-life-begins-amid-te.aspx|title=Egypt's post-Mubarak legislative life begins amid tension and divisions|date=23 January 2012|access-date=26 January 2026|work=Ahram Online}}</ref>
 
=== 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]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Wasat Party initially boycotting constitutional referendums|url=http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2013/12/17/wasat-party-initially-boycotting-constitutional-referendum/|agency=Daily News Egypt|date=17 December 2013|access-date=17 December 2013}}</ref> Elela Mady was released in August 2015.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Pro-Morsi political leader Abul-Ela Madi released from jail|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/137716.aspx|agency=Ahram Online|date=13 August 2015|access-date=19 December 2025}}</ref>
 
The party withdrew from the [[Anti-Coup Alliance]] on 28 August 2014.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://thecairopost.com/news/123570/inside_egypt/wasat-party-withdraws-from-nasl-considers-parliamentary-elections-source|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140830054444/http://thecairopost.com/news/123570/inside_egypt/wasat-party-withdraws-from-nasl-considers-parliamentary-elections-source|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 August 2014|title=Wasat Party withdraws from NASL, considers parliamentary elections: Source|agency=Cairo Post|date=28 August 2014|access-date=28 August 2014}}</ref> A court case was brought forth to dissolve the party,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/egyptsource/political-islam-s-fate-in-egypt-lies-in-the-hands-of-the-courts|title=Political Islam's Fate in Egypt Lies in the Hands of the Courts|author=Yussef Auf|date=25 November 2014|work=Atlantic Council|access-date=10 January 2026}}</ref> though the Alexandria Urgent Matters Court ruled on 26 November 2014 that it lacked jurisdiction.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2014/11/26/court-claims-jurisdiction-religiously-affiliated-parties/|title=Court claims no jurisdiction over religiously affiliated parties|date=26 November 2014|work=Daily News Egypt|access-date=1 December 2014}}</ref>


==Ideology==
==Ideology==
The party asserts that its aim is to promote a tolerant version of [[Islam]] with [[Liberal movements within Islam|liberal tendencies]]. Its founder Mady highlights as proof of this openness the fact that two [[Copts]] and three women are among the party's 24 top members.<ref>{{Cite news|title=After years of trying, moderate Islamic party gets official recognition in post-Mubarak Egypt|author=Maamoun Youssef |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jqgqVZUjLjXbA31l70QPM4H-X8GQ?docId=6004567|work=[[Canadian Press Enterprises Inc.|CP]]|date=19 February 2011|access-date=20 February 2011}}</ref> 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."<ref name="Almasry Alyoum"/> The party's manifesto accepts the right of a Christian to become head of state in a Muslim-majority country.<ref name="IANS"/> Its founder Mady likens its ideology to that of the Turkish [[Justice and Development Party (Turkey)|Justice and Development Party (AKP)]].<ref name="Reuters"/>
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."<ref name="Almasry Alyoum"/> The party's manifesto accepts the right of a Christian to become head of state in a Muslim-majority country.<ref name="IANS"/> Its founder Mady likens its ideology to that of the Turkish [[Justice and Development Party (Turkey)|Justice and Development Party (AKP)]].<ref name="Reuters"/>
 
==Electoral history==
 
===People's Assembly elections===
{| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
!Election
!Seats
!+/–
|-
|[[2011–12 Egyptian parliamentary election|2011–12]]
|{{Composition bar|10|596|{{party color|Al-Wasat Party}}}}
|{{increase}} 10
|}


==See also==
==See also==
*[[List of Islamic political parties]]
*[[List of political parties in Egypt]]
*[[List of political parties in Egypt]]


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[[Category:Islamic political parties in Egypt]]
[[Category:Islamic political parties in Egypt]]
[[Category:Organisations of the Egyptian Crisis (2011–2014)]]
[[Category:Organisations of the Egyptian Crisis (2011–2014)]]
[[Category:Offshoots of the Muslim Brotherhood]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1996]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1996]]
[[Category:Political parties in Egypt]]

Latest revision as of 11:19, 27 January 2026


New Center Party
حزب الوسط الجديد
Hizb al-Wasat al-Jadid
PresidentMohamed Abdel Latif (acting)[1]
Abou Elela Mady
Vice-PresidentEssam Sultan
Vice-PresidentMohamed Mahsoub
Secretary-GeneralMohammed Abdul-Latif
SpokespersonAmr Farouk
Founded1996 (1996)
Legalized19 February 2011
Split fromMuslim Brotherhood in Egypt[2]
Headquarters8 Pearl St., Mokattam, Cairo
Membership (2011)5.088[3]
IdeologyIslamic democracy[4]
Political positionCentre[5]
ColorsMaroon
Sloganالوطن قبل الوسط
Motherland before Al-wasat
House of Representatives
0 / 568

The al-Wasat Party (Arabic: حزب الوسط, romanized: Hizb al-Wasat), translated in English as the Center Party, is a moderate Islamist political party in Egypt.[6]

History[edit | edit source]

Foundation[edit | edit source]

The party was founded by Abou Elela Mady in 1996 as a split from the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt,[7] 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.[8] 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.[8] 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.[9]

Recognition[edit | edit source]

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.[10] 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.[11][12]

2011/2012 parliamentary election[edit | edit source]

The party initially was part of the Democratic Alliance for Egypt, though it left in October 2011[13] and later allied with the Renaissance Party and the Pioneer Party, both of which were also offshoots of the Muslim Brotherhood,[14] and won 10 seats.[15]

Post-coup d'etat[edit | edit source]

The leader of the party, Abou Elela Mady, as well as deputy head Essam Sultan, were detained following the 2013 Egyptian coup d'état.[16] Elela Mady was released in August 2015.[17]

The party withdrew from the Anti-Coup Alliance on 28 August 2014.[18] A court case was brought forth to dissolve the party,[19] though the Alexandria Urgent Matters Court ruled on 26 November 2014 that it lacked jurisdiction.[20]

Ideology[edit | edit source]

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."[5] The party's manifesto accepts the right of a Christian to become head of state in a Muslim-majority country.[11] Its founder Mady likens its ideology to that of the Turkish Justice and Development Party (AKP).[8]

Electoral history[edit | edit source]

People's Assembly elections[edit | edit source]

Election Seats +/–
2011–12
10 / 596
 Increase 10

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "حزب الوسط: مظاهرات 28 نوفمبر خطوة غير موفقة ولننشارك فيها". Youm7. 24 November 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  2. ↑ "Islamist Movements and the Democratic Process in the Arab World: Exploring the Gray Zones" (PDF). Herbert Quandt Stiftung. 2006. p. 18.
  3. ↑ "Länderbericht Parteienmonitor Ägypten 2011" (PDF) (in Deutsch). Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. 27 November 2011. p. 3. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  4. ↑ The Cairo Review of Global Affairs, "Egypt Elections: al-Wasat (Center Party)" Archived 30 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 31 January 2012
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Shaimaa el-Karanshawi (19 February 2011). "Egypt court approves moderate Islamic party". Almasry Alyoum. Archived from the original on 4 January 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  6. ↑ Egypt Elections – Carnegie Endowment For International Peace, Guide to Egypt's Transition, "Al-Wasat (Center Party)". Archived 30 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 31 January 2012
  7. ↑ Dina Shehata (March 2012). "Mapping Islamic Actors in Egypt" (PDF). Islam Research Program. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Sarah Mikhail; Tom Perry (19 February 2011). "New party shows deep political change in new Egypt". Reuters. Archived from the original on 20 February 2011. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  9. ↑ "Constitutional Amendments of 2007" (PDF). Cabinet of Egypt. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 December 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  10. ↑ Tom Perry (19 February 2011). "After 15-year wait, Egypt's Wasat Party approved". Reuters. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Egypt court approves country's first Islamic party". Indo-Asian News Service. 19 February 2011. Archived from the original (Reprint) on 22 February 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  12. ↑ "Egypt licenses first moderate Islamic party". The Jerusalem Post. 19 February 2011. Archived from the original on 19 February 2011. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  13. ↑ "Wasat Party". Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  14. ↑ "Al-Wasat Party". Jadaliyya. 18 November 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  15. ↑ "Egypt's post-Mubarak legislative life begins amid tension and divisions". Ahram Online. 23 January 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  16. ↑ "Wasat Party initially boycotting constitutional referendums". Daily News Egypt. 17 December 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  17. ↑ "Pro-Morsi political leader Abul-Ela Madi released from jail". Ahram Online. 13 August 2015. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
  18. ↑ "Wasat Party withdraws from NASL, considers parliamentary elections: Source". Cairo Post. 28 August 2014. Archived from the original on 30 August 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  19. ↑ Yussef Auf (25 November 2014). "Political Islam's Fate in Egypt Lies in the Hands of the Courts". Atlantic Council. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  20. ↑ "Court claims no jurisdiction over religiously affiliated parties". Daily News Egypt. 26 November 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.

Further reading[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]

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