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The Egypt Civilization Party is a small, centrist, secular political party that describes itself as being “in the center: in the right wing economically, and left wing socially.” It strongly emphasizes culture, the arts, and renewing Egypt’s civilization. It is part of the Democratic Alliance.
Major Party Figures:
Mohamed al-Sawy: President and founder, Member of the People’s Assembly
Hatem Khater: Leading party member, head of the Egyptian Food Bank
Hatem Abu Bakr Ahmed Azzam: Member of the People’s Assembly
Background
The party was established in 2011, after the uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak, by Mohamed al-Sawy, the founder of al-Sawy Culture wheel, a cultural organization that is home to some of Egypt’s most active art and culture centers, book fairs, and concerts. Al-Hadara joined the Democratic Alliance and was one of the few secular parties to remain a member of the alliance at the time of elections. It won two seats of parliament in the 2011 People’s Assembly elections, one of which went to al-Sawy.
Platform:
Political Issues:
- Promoting Egypt as a civil state with Islamic law as the main source of legislation and with non-Muslim minorities having the right to be governed under their own laws on personal status issues such as marriage, divorce and inheritance
- Affirming freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion, and the right to form political parties
- Supporting the equality of all citizens under the law and the independence of the judiciary
- Supporting a semi-presidential system
- Promoting greater decentralization of the political system and the strengthening of local government
Socioeconomic Issues:
- Upholding a free market economy
- Promoting investment through deregulation and supporting free trade
- Reducing the amount of time it takes to start a business to a maximum seventy-two-hours
- Ensuring that the state acts as the promoter of industry and infrastructure and acting as a catalyst of innovation
- Supporting the right to education for all citizens
- Affirming the right to a minimum wage and a decent life for all citizens
- Supporting the right to health care for all citizens
Foreign Policy Issues:
- Returning Egypt to its proper place as the leader of Arab and Islamic civilization
- Supporting an Arab common market
