Popular Unity Party (Iraq)
Encyclopedia
Popular Unity Party, a political party
in Iraq
led by Youssif Hamdan. Initially set-up as Communist Party of Iraq in 1995. CPI split away from the Iraqi Communist Party
during the latter period of the Saddam Hussein
regime. Many saw the setting up of CPI as a puppet party of the regime, whose existence would give the outside world an impression that the country was a multi-party state. CPI met with foreign delegations visiting Iraq
. It seems the intentions of CPI would be to join the government as a junior partner within the National Progressive Front
, similar to the coalition
set-up in neighbouring Syria
, but the idea was later discarded. CPI was never given possibility to register as a legal party, though its leader was in the Iraqi parliament as of 2001.
Following the fall of the Saddam regime, the party was reconstructed as the Popular Unity Party.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
led by Youssif Hamdan. Initially set-up as Communist Party of Iraq in 1995. CPI split away from the Iraqi Communist Party
Iraqi Communist Party
Since its foundation in 1934, the Iraqi Communist Party has dominated the left in Iraqi politics. It played a fundamental role in shaping the political history of Iraq between its foundation and the 1970s. The Party was involved in many of the most important national uprisings and demonstrations...
during the latter period of the Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
regime. Many saw the setting up of CPI as a puppet party of the regime, whose existence would give the outside world an impression that the country was a multi-party state. CPI met with foreign delegations visiting Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. It seems the intentions of CPI would be to join the government as a junior partner within the National Progressive Front
National Progressive Front (Iraq)
The National Progressive Front was an Iraqi Popular Front announced on July 16, 1973 and constituted in 1974, ostensibly formed within the framework of a "joint action programme" to establish a coalition between the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party, the Iraqi Communist Party, the Kurdistan...
, similar to the coalition
National Progressive Front
The National Progressive Front , established in 1972, is a coalition of political parties in Syria that support the socialist and Arab nationalist orientation of the government and accept the "leading role in society" of the Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party, .The Front was established by Syrian...
set-up in neighbouring Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, but the idea was later discarded. CPI was never given possibility to register as a legal party, though its leader was in the Iraqi parliament as of 2001.
Following the fall of the Saddam regime, the party was reconstructed as the Popular Unity Party.