Wafd Party

Also found in: Wikipedia.

The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Wafd Party

(Arabic, literally “delegation”), from 1918 to 1953 the largest political party of Egypt and leader of the national liberation movement.

The Wafd Party was founded by Said Zaghlul in November 1918. In 1927, Nahas Pasha became its chairman. Basically the party of the nationalist bourgeoisie, the Wafd also included representatives of the intelligentsia, landowners, and petite bourgeoisie. It regarded as its main task the attainment of Egypt’s complete independence. It was in power in 1924, 1928, and 1930 and from 1936 to 1937, 1942 to 1944, and 1950 to January 1952. It showed indecision in organizing resistance to the English aggression at the end of 1951 and the beginning of 1952, and this wavering shook its authority with the popular masses. The Wafd took no part in the revolution of 1952 and was dissolved in January 1953; some of the Wafd members unsuccessfully fought the government of Nasser in actions of 1954, 1957, and 1961.

B. G. SEIRANIAN

Mentioned in ?

References in periodicals archive ?

FILE: Chairman of Al-Wafd Party Bahaa al-Din Abu Shoka CAIRO -- 16 August 2019: Chairman of the 40-year old New Wafd Party Bahaa Abu Shoka has decided to form a legal committee former of law and legal affairs professors, to prosecute those who insult the nationalist liberal party.

Liberal Wafd forms committee to prosecute those disrespecting party

This came amid internal disputes taking place inside the party, after a high-level election took place inside Egypt's 40-year old New Wafd Party, as some candidates who lost ballots announced that they filled grievances to the chairperson of the party over the election results, only few days after a high-level election took place.

Abo Shoqa refers Al-Badawi to investigation over violations

Sayyid El-Badawi (C), head of the Wafd party, leaves the headquarters of the main Wafd party following a meeting with the party's supreme committee, in the capital Cairo, on January 27, 2018.

Wafd Party votes against backing chairman against Sisi in Egypt's presidential elections

The bloc was primarily designed to include the liberal Wafd Party, the Egyptian Social Democratic Party and the leftist Tagammu party.

Amr Moussa's Egypt electoral alliance collapses

"It is likely that the presidential system will be maintained, but with guarantees to ensure that the ruler will not turn into a dictator," said Baha Al Deen Abu Shuqa, a senior official in the liberal Al Wafd Party.

Egypt's military likely to curb presidential powers

Abou el-Ghar said it was possible that his own party could still be allotted one of the deputy positions if the Wafd party chose not to go along with the accord.

Islamist most likely to become speaker of Egypt's next parliament

The Wafd Party seems to be the only major political force raising a stink over voting irregularities and how they may have affected the party's performance.

Official results: Islamists win more than 65 percent--Elbaradei: liberals "decimated"--official Israeli reactions convey concern over results--KSA intelligence chief: we accept the will of the Egyptian people--brotherhood: no coalition with Salafists; Split seen between the two

It was carried out by Egyptians and Sudanese from different walks of life in the wake of the British-ordered exile of revolutionary leader Saad Zaghloul and other members of the Wafd Party in 1919.

After the six-day war

Ahmed Ezz El-Arab, the vice chairman of Egypt's Wafd Party, went on to claim that Anne Frank's memoirs were a "fake" and that despite evidence; six million Jews were not killed in the Holocaust.

Outrageous Egyptian Leader Claims Holocaust 'a Lie'

Gul met leaders of some parties and representatives of NGOs in Egypt, including Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammed Bedi, Ayman Nour, chairperson of El-Ghad political party, Sayyid al-Badawi, President of Egypt's New Wafd party, as well as George Ishak, chairman of Kefaya Group.

TURKEY-EGYPT -Turkish president returns to Turkey after one-day visit to Egypt

Mounir Abdel Nour, secretary-general of the Wafd party, a decades old liberal, nationalist party, became tourism minister.

Egypt cabinet reshuffle brings in opposition

It will not be a surprise when the final results of the Egyptian parliamentary elections are announced and it appears that candidates affiliated with opposition forces have won seats in the second round, which was held yesterday, despite the fact that the first round had ended in the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) winning a number of seats unbelievable at any elections, the Wafd Party winning two seats and the El-Ghad, Tagammu and Social Justice parties winning one seat each.