Unified Egyptian Communist Party
Encyclopedia
The Unified Egyptian Communist Party was a political party
in Egypt
. The party was founded in February 1955 through the merger of the Democratic Movement for National Liberation
(HADITU) and six splinter organizations (including HADITU-Revolutionary Tendency, an-Najm al-Ahmar, an-Nuah and Communist Vanguard). The talks regarding the merger were held without the HADITU leader Henri Curiel
(in exile in Paris
) being aware of them. Once the merger was finalized Curiel and HADITU leader Kamal Abd al-Halim (a close associate of Curiel) were excluded from membership in the new party. Curiel and Abd al-Halim were allowed to enter the party in 1956, and after the 1956 war Curiel was included in its Central Committee
.
The Unified Egyptian Communist Party was largely supportive of the government of Gamal Abdul Nasser. One of its main competitors in the Egyptian communist movement, the ar-Raya faction, repeatedly criticized this stand. Furthermore ar-Raya criticized Curiel's role in the Unified Egyptian Communist Party, branding it a direct continuation of the old HADITU.
The party favoured a peaceful settlement of the conflict with Israel
, but were largely supportive of the anti-imperialist positions of Nasser. The party identified American imperialism as the driving force behind the conflict, and Israel as the key imperialist force in the region. Notably, Curiel differed with the party regarding the analysis of the regional conflict. He had retained the old HADITU view, blaming Arab reactionaries for the 1948 war. The party sought to open relations with the Israeli Communist Party in 1956, but the Israeli party never replied to the request (considering the Unified Egyptian Communist Party outside the limits of communist political orthodoxy). During the 1956 Suez War, the party mobilized popular resistance activities in Port Said
.
The Unified Egyptian Communist Party opened a publishing house, Dar al-fikr, in early 1956. In April 1956 the party issued a report, labelled "Imperialism is the principal enemy". The report called for the support to Nasser's government, and to defend it against imperialist intrigues. Whilst expressing criticisms regarding limitations on democratic freedoms in Egypt, the party subordninated these demands for the sake of constructing anti-imperialist unity.
Towards the end of 1956, the three main communist factions in Egypt (the Unified Egyptian Communist Party, ar-Raya and the Workers and Peasants Communist Party) began talks regarding unification of the Egyptian communists. The talks were assisted by a representative of the Italian Communist Party
(Velio Spagno) and a representative of the Iraqi Communist Party
(Amr Abdullah). During the talks, the ar-Raya group demanded that Jews be excluded from the leadership of the unified party. The Workers and Peasants Communist Party and the followers of Curiel opposed this demand. The majority of the Unified Egyptian Communist Party did however cede to the demand, and in June 1957 the party and the ar-Raya group merged to form the United Egyptian Communist Party
. Curiel's exile 'Rome Group' was disbanded in October 1957 by the new 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 Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. The party was founded in February 1955 through the merger of the Democratic Movement for National Liberation
Democratic Movement for National Liberation
The Democratic Movement for National Liberation was a communist organization in Egypt 1947-1955. HADITU was led by Henri Curiel. The movement followed a line of National Democratic Revolution....
(HADITU) and six splinter organizations (including HADITU-Revolutionary Tendency, an-Najm al-Ahmar, an-Nuah and Communist Vanguard). The talks regarding the merger were held without the HADITU leader Henri Curiel
Henri Curiel
Henri Curiel was a left-wing political activist. Born in Egypt, Curiel led the communist Democratic Movement for National Liberation until he was expelled from the country in 1950. Settling in France, Curiel aided the Algerian Front de Libération Nationale and other national liberation causes...
(in exile in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
) being aware of them. Once the merger was finalized Curiel and HADITU leader Kamal Abd al-Halim (a close associate of Curiel) were excluded from membership in the new party. Curiel and Abd al-Halim were allowed to enter the party in 1956, and after the 1956 war Curiel was included in its Central Committee
Central Committee
Central Committee was the common designation of a standing administrative body of communist parties, analogous to a board of directors, whether ruling or non-ruling in the twentieth century and of the surviving, mostly Trotskyist, states in the early twenty first. In such party organizations the...
.
The Unified Egyptian Communist Party was largely supportive of the government of Gamal Abdul Nasser. One of its main competitors in the Egyptian communist movement, the ar-Raya faction, repeatedly criticized this stand. Furthermore ar-Raya criticized Curiel's role in the Unified Egyptian Communist Party, branding it a direct continuation of the old HADITU.
The party favoured a peaceful settlement of the conflict with Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, but were largely supportive of the anti-imperialist positions of Nasser. The party identified American imperialism as the driving force behind the conflict, and Israel as the key imperialist force in the region. Notably, Curiel differed with the party regarding the analysis of the regional conflict. He had retained the old HADITU view, blaming Arab reactionaries for the 1948 war. The party sought to open relations with the Israeli Communist Party in 1956, but the Israeli party never replied to the request (considering the Unified Egyptian Communist Party outside the limits of communist political orthodoxy). During the 1956 Suez War, the party mobilized popular resistance activities in Port Said
Port Said
Port Said is a city that lies in north east Egypt extending about 30 km along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, north of the Suez Canal, with an approximate population of 603,787...
.
The Unified Egyptian Communist Party opened a publishing house, Dar al-fikr, in early 1956. In April 1956 the party issued a report, labelled "Imperialism is the principal enemy". The report called for the support to Nasser's government, and to defend it against imperialist intrigues. Whilst expressing criticisms regarding limitations on democratic freedoms in Egypt, the party subordninated these demands for the sake of constructing anti-imperialist unity.
Towards the end of 1956, the three main communist factions in Egypt (the Unified Egyptian Communist Party, ar-Raya and the Workers and Peasants Communist Party) began talks regarding unification of the Egyptian communists. The talks were assisted by a representative of the Italian Communist Party
Italian Communist Party
The Italian Communist Party was a communist political party in Italy.The PCI was founded as Communist Party of Italy on 21 January 1921 in Livorno, by seceding from the Italian Socialist Party . Amadeo Bordiga and Antonio Gramsci led the split. Outlawed during the Fascist regime, the party played...
(Velio Spagno) and a representative of 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...
(Amr Abdullah). During the talks, the ar-Raya group demanded that Jews be excluded from the leadership of the unified party. The Workers and Peasants Communist Party and the followers of Curiel opposed this demand. The majority of the Unified Egyptian Communist Party did however cede to the demand, and in June 1957 the party and the ar-Raya group merged to form the United Egyptian Communist Party
United Egyptian Communist Party
The United Egyptian Communist Party was a political party in Egypt. The party was founded in 1957 , through the merger of the Unified Egyptian Communist Party and the Egyptian Communist Party...
. Curiel's exile 'Rome Group' was disbanded in October 1957 by the new party.