{{Short description|Political party in Egypt}} {{More citations needed|date=January 2026}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2025}} {{Infobox political party | logo_size = 170px | colorcode = {{party color|New Wafd Party}} | leader = [[Abdel-Sanad Yamama]] | chairperson = [[El-Sayyid el-Badawi]] | name = Egyptian Wafd Party<ref>{{cite web|url=http://alwafd.org/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D9%81%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%85/854248-%D9%86%D9%86%D8%B4%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D8%AA%D9%8A%D8%AC%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%87%D9%8A%D8%A6%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D9%84%D9%80-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D9%81%D8%AF|title=ننشر النتيجة النهائية لانتخابات الهيئة العليا لـ"الوفد"|last=الوفد|access-date=25 May 2018|archive-date=19 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150519080153/http://www.alwafd.org/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D9%81%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%85/854248-%D9%86%D9%86%D8%B4%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D8%AA%D9%8A%D8%AC%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%87%D9%8A%D8%A6%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D9%84%D9%80-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D9%81%D8%AF|url-status=dead}}</ref> | native_name = {{Nobold|{{Script/Arabic|حزب الوفد المصري}}}}<br/> Egyptian Delegation Party | logo = Wafd Party Logo.svg{{!}}class=skin-invert | leader1_title = Vice Chairman | leader1_name = [[Khaled Kandil]] | secretary_general = [[Monir Fakhry Abdel Nour]] | foundation = {{start date and age|1978|2|4|df=y}} | predecessor = [[Wafd Party]] | national = [[National Unified List for Egypt]] (since 2020)<ref name="ao23oct">{{cite web|url=https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/555362.aspxx|title=Contenders gear up|publisher=Ahram Online|date=23 October 2025|access-date=24 January 2026|first1=Gamal|last1=Essam El-Din}}</ref> | slogan = "Justice is above power, and the nation is above the government"<br/>{{Nobold|{{Script/Arabic|الحق فوق القوة والأمة فوق الحكومة}}}} | anthem = "Arise O' Egyptian!"<br/>{{Nobold|{{Script/Arabic|قوم يا مصري}}}} | symbol = | flag = Wafd party flag.svg | headquarters = [[Dokki|El-Dokki]], [[Giza]], [[Egypt]] | newspaper = ''[[Al-Wafd]]'' | ideology = {{ublist|class = nowrap | [[National liberalism#Egypt|National liberalism]]<ref name="Jazeera:Brotherhood">{{Citation|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/10/201010911379428759.html|title=Brotherhood to run in Egypt polls|work=[[Al Jazeera English]]|date=9 October 2010|access-date=25 December 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101011002329/http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/10/201010911379428759.html|archive-date=11 October 2010}}</ref> | [[Liberal conservatism]]<ref>{{Citation|url=http://articles.cnn.com/2011-02-04/world/egypt.protests_1_opposition-parties-ayman-nour-wafd-party?_s=PM:WORLD|title=Tens of thousands demand change in Cairo's Tahrir Square|publisher=[[CNN World]]|date=4 February 2011|access-date=20 December 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130130140054/http://articles.cnn.com/2011-02-04/world/egypt.protests_1_opposition-parties-ayman-nour-wafd-party?_s=PM:WORLD|archive-date=30 January 2013}}</ref> | [[Secularism]]<ref>{{Citation|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i4IpwCILc_XmufF5doiB-DqaIc3g?docId%3DCNG.10af55f3e3cb08c769737268f0f3bdbc.6b1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227234021/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i4IpwCILc_XmufF5doiB-DqaIc3g?docId%3DCNG.10af55f3e3cb08c769737268f0f3bdbc.6b1|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 February 2014|first=Samer|last=al-Atrush|title=Islamists, secular party withdraw from Egypt poll run-off|via=[[Agence France-Presse]]|date=1 December 2010|access-date=20 December 2013}}</ref> | [[Economic liberalism]]<ref name="AJexplainer">{{cite news|work=[[Al Jazeera English]]|title=Explainer: Egypt's crowded political arena|date=17 November 2011|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/spotlight/egypt/2011/11/2011111510295463645.html|first=Evan|last=Hill|access-date=25 December 2025}}</ref> | [[Conservative liberalism]]<ref name="AJexplainer"/> }} | position = [[Centre-right politics|Centre-right]] | seats1_title = [[Senate (Egypt)|Senate]] | seats1 = {{Composition bar|2|300|hex={{party color|New Wafd Party}}}} | seats2_title = [[House of Representatives (Egypt)|House of Representatives]] | seats2 = {{Composition bar|12|596|hex={{party color|New Wafd Party}}}} | colors = {{Color box|{{party color|New Wafd Party}}|border=darkgray}} [[Green]] | native_name_lang = ar | website = {{url|https://alwafd.news/}}<br/>(''Al-Wafd'', in Arabic) | country = Egypt | founder = [[Fouad Serageddin]] }}
The '''New Wafd Party''' ({{langx|ar|حزب الوفد الجديد||New Delegation Party}}), officially the '''Egyptian Wafd Party''',<ref>{{Cite news|title=Wafd polls bring change to by-law, returns old party name|url=https://www.egyptindependent.com/wafd-polls-bring-change-law-returns-old-party-name/|newspaper=[[Egypt Independent]]|date=17 May 2015|access-date=13 February 2026}}</ref> and also known as the '''Al-Wafd Party''', is a [[National liberalism|nationalist liberal]]<ref name="Jazeera:Brotherhood"/> [[List of political parties in Egypt|party]] in [[Egypt]].
It is the extension of one of the oldest and historically most active political parties in Egypt, [[Wafd Party]], which was dismantled after the [[1952 Revolution]]. The New Wafd was established in 1978,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sis.gov.eg/En/Story.aspx?sid=482 |title=Egypt State Information Service|publisher=SIS|access-date=20 December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://egyptelections.carnegieendowment.org/2011/09/20/al-wafd-delegation-party|title=Al-Wafd (Delegation Party) – Egypt's Transition|publisher=Carnegie Endowment|access-date=20 December 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030053947/http://egyptelections.carnegieendowment.org/2011/09/20/al-wafd-delegation-party|archive-date=30 October 2013}}</ref> but banned only months later. It was revived after President [[Anwar Sadat]]'s assassination in 1981.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Wafd.aspx|title=Articles about Wafd|website=Encyclopedia.com|access-date=20 December 2013}}</ref>
In Egypt's [[2005 Egyptian parliamentary election|legislative]] and [[2005 Egyptian presidential election|presidential]] elections in November and December 2005, the party won 6 out of 454 seats in the [[People's Assembly of Egypt|People's Assembly]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://europeanforum.net/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060213115505/http://www.europeanforum.net/country/egypt|url-status=dead|title=Home - European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity|date=17 August 2022|archive-date=13 February 2006}}</ref> and its presidential candidate [[Numan Gumaa]] received 2.9 per cent of the total votes cast for president.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mubarak declared winner in Egypt poll|agency=[[Reuters]]|date=9 September 2005|access-date=20 December 2013|url=http://www.islamweb.net/eramadan/index.php?page=articles&id=98053|website=islamweb.net}}</ref>
Following the [[2011 Egyptian revolution|2011 revolution]] the party joined the [[National Democratic Alliance for Egypt]] electoral bloc, which was dominated by the [[Muslim Brotherhood]]'s [[Freedom and Justice Party (Egypt)|Freedom and Justice Party]].<ref name="ei7sept">{{Cite news|title=Egypt's oldest liberal party faces controversy over alliance with Brotherhood|url=http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/egypts-oldest-liberal-party-faces-controversy-over-alliance-brotherhood|newspaper=[[Egypt Independent]]|date=7 September 2011|access-date=25 December 2025|first=Abdel-Rahman|last=Hussein}}</ref>
As the date neared for fielding candidate lists, Wafd left the alliance and competed in the elections independently. In the subsequent [[2011–12 Egyptian parliamentary election|parliamentary elections]], the party came third with 9.2% of the vote, and was the most successful non-Islamist party.
Wafd Party is now headquartered in Dokki, Giza Province in Egypt.
[[El-Sayyid el-Badawi]] is the current party chairman after winning the Wafd's internal elections in 2026, replacing [[Abdel-Sanad Yamama]].
==Ideology and goals== [[File:New Wafd Party's headquarters.JPG|thumb|The party's headquarters in [[Dokki|El-Dokki]], [[Giza]].]] The New Wafd has tried to place itself at the ideological center between the main historic traditions in Egypt of [[Arab socialism]] and private [[capitalism]]. It has been critical of the government's encouragement of foreign private investment, advocating a more balanced approach to the relationship between private and public sectors.<ref>[http://www.bookrags.com/tandf/new-wafd-party-tf/ New Wafd Party] bookrags.com {{dead link|date=January 2013}}</ref>
The party presses for introducing political, economic, and social reforms, promoting democracy, ensuring basic freedoms and human rights, and maintaining national unity.
The party also calls for abolishing the [[Emergency law in Egypt|emergency law]], solving the unemployment and housing problems, upgrading the health services and developing the education system.<ref>{{Cite news|title=State Information Services The New Wafd Party|url=http://www.sis.gov.eg/En/Templates/Articles/tmpArticles.aspx?ArtID=482|agency=State Information Services|access-date=20 December 2013}}</ref>
=== Controversy === In an interview with ''[[The Washington Times]]'' in July 2011, former Wafd Party vice-chairman Ahmed Ezz el-Arab dismissed [[The Holocaust]] as a "lie" (while accepting that the Nazis killed "hundreds of thousands" of Jews, but not 6 million), and the ''[[Diary of Anne Frank]]'' as a "forgery". Moreover, he claimed that the [[September 11 attacks]] were in reality perpetrated by [[Mossad]], the [[CIA]] and America's "[[military–industrial complex]]", and that [[Osama bin Laden]] was an "American agent".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=228194|work=[[The Jerusalem Post]]|title=Anne Frank a 'fake,' says 'liberal' Egyptian leader|first=Oren|last=Kessler|author-link=Oren Kessler|date=6 July 2011|access-date=20 December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jul/5/egypt-party-leader-holocaust-is-a-lie/|work=[[The Washington Times]]|title=Egypt party leader: Holocaust is 'a lie'|date=5 July 2011|access-date=20 December 2013}}</ref>
== Prominent party figures == *[[Fuad Serageddin]] Pasha – the party's first chairman *[[Bahaa El-Din Abu Shoka]] – member of parliament, senator; current chairman of the party, and chairman of the legislative committee in parliament and leader of the party's current parliamentary bloc *[[Khaled Kandil]] – current vice chairman of the party, senator *[[Numan Gumaa]] – former chairman and 2005 presidential candidate * [[Monir Fakhri Abdel Nour]] – long-time serving [[Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria|Coptic]] parliament member, politician and former party vice chairman * Muhammed Elwan – one of the founders and long-serving chairman's assistant * [[Essam Shiha]] – member of the supreme committee of the party * [[Ahmed Gamal El Segini]] – member of parliament, current chairman of the committee of local governance * [[Hilmi Murad]] – one of the founding vice presidents
== History == {{Main|Wafd Party}}
=== After 1973=== After the end of 6 October War with Israel, and the Camp David treaty, Egyptian president [[Anwar Sadat]] started to accept the return of the multi-party system to the political life in Egypt, after Egypt had been under one-party rule for over 25 years, therefore, Sadat established the [[Egypt Arab Socialist Party|Egyptian Arab Socialist Party]], where he became its president. In 1976 the [[Liberal Socialists Party (Egypt)|Liberal Party]] was established, which represented the Liberal wing, followed by the [[National Progressive Unionist Party|Unionist Party]], which represented the left wing. Later on Sadat established the [[National Democratic Party (Egypt)|National Democratic party]]. After then there were plans to revive the Wafd Party, led by the efforts of young ambitious Egyptian political figures and Fouad Serag el Deen Pasha.
=== Early years and establishment=== [[File:Fouad Serageddin.jpg|thumb|[[Fouad Serageddin|Fouad Serageddin Pasha]], the party's founder and leader from 1978 till 2000|239x239px]] In January 1978 [[Fouad Serageddin]] requested to allow New Wafd Party to engage into the Egyptian political life freely, which was met by disagreement from the Egyptian authorities and the President. The Egyptian authorities started to spread false news about the corruption of the party, and that New Wafd Party seeks the return of the pre-[[Egyptian Revolution of 1952|1952 revolution]] status. However, New Wafd party was accepted to be established on 4 February 1978, by the Egyptian Partys' Committee. Even though New Wafd party was accepted and could stand legally, the party froze its membership with its own discretion to avoid clashes with the Egyptian President and Authorities, which inevitably took place, which included the detainment of Fouad Serag el Deen, the party's chairman at then, by a decision of the president in September 1981, which included many Egyptian political figures and some founders of New Wafd Party.
After the assassination of Sadat, after which, [[Hosni Mubarak]] became president, change in Egyptian political life was needed, as such Hosni Mubarak decided to free all those detained by Anwar Sadat's decisions. Consequently, New Wafd party took the chance its chance for revival, and decided to unfreeze it status, which was rejected by the Egyptian Lawsuits authority, however, New Wafd party challenged such decision and the party was back to political life in 1984.
=== 1984 elections === In 1984 Wafd formed an alliance with the [[Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt|Muslim Brotherhood]] ahead of parliamentary elections, but the results were disappointing<ref name=ei7sept/> as it won only 15% of the vote.<ref>[http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/arc/EGYPT_1984_E.PDF Egypt] Inter-Parliamentary Union</ref>
=== 2005–2006 turmoil === Early in December 2005 the party appeared to be in crisis following the parliamentary elections, when party chairman [[Numan Gumaa]] dismissed prominent party leader and vice chairman [[Monir Fakhri Abdel Nour]] following the poor performance the party showed during the elections.
Abdel Nour was also the leader of the opposition bloc in the outgoing parliament before losing his seat in the first stage of elections. Abdel Nour told the media before his dismissal, that the only way the party could improve would be by "changing its leadership". He also continued that there was much support within the party for such a change.
After a poor showing in the 2005 Egyptian presidential elections, the Wafd Party split into two camps, with one group demanding that Gumaa leave his post as chairman. That demand became even more pronounced after the party also did poorly in the parliamentary elections.
Later in December 2005 the party's higher political board reverted Gumaa's decisions on firing Abdel Nour as well as other members. The higher board also held elections for its membership and amended its internal by-laws and rules, especially those that give the party's chairman vast authorities in an aim to trim the chairman's political powers, all of which Gumaa has agreed to support.
On 18 January 2006 the supreme committee for the party ousted its chairman Numan Gumaa from the party and from the presidency of the board of al-Wafd newspaper. The committee attributed its decision to what it called Gumaa's tyrannical behaviour and abuse of authority.
It also appointed his deputy Mahmoud Abaza as an interim chairman for a period of 60 days after which the General Assembly of the party would be invited for an emergency meeting to choose a new chairman.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/060119/2006011901.html|title=Egyptian al-Wafd party removes chairman Nuuman Jumaa|date=19 January 2006|access-date=20 December 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131221191111/http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/060119/2006011901.html|archive-date=21 December 2013}}</ref>
However, Gumaa contended that this decision contradicted the party's statutes and that he was the legitimate chairman who can be dismissed only by a decision of the party's General Assembly. He responded by filing a complaint with Egypt's Prosecutor General, who ruled that Gumaa should be allowed access to party's headquarters. Abaza filed an urgent lawsuit asking that the Prosecutor General's ruling be overturned.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.egypttoday.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=6348|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203233005/http://www.egypttoday.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=6348|url-status=dead|title=Kicked out.|archive-date=3 December 2010}}</ref>
The party's newspaper ''[[Al-Wafd]]'' was suspended for thirteen days from 27 January until 8 February 2006 after Gumaa asked ''[[Al-Ahram]]'' publishing house to stop printing the paper and fired its editor and some journalists, complaining of their allegiance to Abaza's group.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data%2Fmiddleeast%2F2006%2FJanuary%2Fmiddleeast_January870.xml§ion=middleeast&col=|archive-date=16 July 2012|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716211804/http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data%2Fmiddleeast%2F2006%2FJanuary%2Fmiddleeast_January870.xml§ion=middleeast&col=|url-status=dead|title=Egypt opposition newspaper stops publishing amid leadership row|date=31 January 2006|access-date=27 January 2026|website=Khaleej Times}}</ref>
On 10 February 2006, the party's General Assembly agreed to dismiss Gumaa from the Wafd presidency and appointed Mustafa El-Tawil (a member of al-Wafd supreme committee) as an interim president till the next elections in July 2006. Gumaa argued the decision was due to an earlier ruling by [[Giza]]'s [[The Egyptian Judicial System#Courts|court of first instance]] to stop the General Assembly meeting.
On 1 April 2006, Gumaa and his supporters occupied the party's headquarters to reclaim control and opened fire on supporters of the rival faction who responded by throwing stones. Twenty three people were injured and fire broke out in the building but was brought under control. Egyptian authorities arrested Gumaa and some of his supporters.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Political Clashes in Egypt Injure 23|url=http://www.aawsat.net/2006/04/article55267271|newspaper=[[Asharq Al-Awsat]]|date=2 April 2006|access-date=20 December 2013|archive-date=20 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220185112/http://www.aawsat.net/2006/04/article55267271|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===2010 party elections=== [[File:El-Sayyid el-Badawi.jpg|thumb|El-Sayyid El-Badawi Shehata, party leader from 2010 till 2018|218x218px]] In May 2010, the party's deputy chairman Fouad Badrawi, grandson of Wafd's late leader Fouad Serageddin announced that he was withdrawing his name from the nominations for party presidency to allow [[El-Sayyid el-Badawi]], a member of the party's supreme authority and the party's former secretary-general, to run instead in the party elections scheduled by the end of the month.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.egypt.com/en/2010050510634/news/-egypt-news/el-badawi-to-run-for-egypt-wafd-presidency.html|title=El Badawi to run for Egypt Wafd presidency|publisher=News|date=5 May 2010|access-date=20 December 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131221045945/http://news.egypt.com/en/2010050510634/news/-egypt-news/el-badawi-to-run-for-egypt-wafd-presidency.html|archive-date=21 December 2013}}</ref> In a rare occurrence in Egyptian partisan life, the elections were conducted in a transparent, peaceful manner and characterized by integrity. At its end, it was announced that El-Badawi would be the new party chairman, with the outgoing president standing beside him.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.egyptindependent.com/opinion/clean-election-process-lesson-wafd-party|title=A clean election process: Lesson from the Wafd Party|newspaper=[[Egypt Independent]]|date=31 May 2010|access-date=25 December 2025|first=Hassan|last=Nafaa}}</ref>
Since his election, El-Badawi has met with many prominent figures in Egyptian life, ranging from politicians, current members of parliament, Muslim and Coptic religious figures and even actors, actresses and football players.
To many observers,{{Who|date=March 2015}} Wafd merged as a much stronger party after this election, which would be counted that would once again attract liberals who were losing grip in the current political map to Islamists and other extremists.
===Role after 2011 revolution=== After the [[2011 Egyptian revolution]] forced President [[Hosni Mubarak]] to announce that he would step down in the coming elections, the government invited opposition parties to participate in dialogue. The party's secretary-general accepted on condition that protesters would not be attacked.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/02/03/egypt.protests/index.html?hpt|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220225458/http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/02/03/egypt.protests/index.html?hpt|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 December 2013|title=Mass protests planned for Friday as Mubarak holds on|publisher=CNN|date=4 February 2011|access-date=20 December 2013}}</ref>
Representatives of the Al-Wafd Party joined anti-Mubarak protesters in [[Tahrir Square]] and vowed not to have a dialogue with government officials until Mubarak relinquished his office.{{Citation needed|date=June 2011}}
===2011–12 parliamentary election=== Following the 2011 Egyptian revolution, on 13 June 2011 the Wafd Party announced its alliance (the [[National Democratic Alliance for Egypt]]) with the [[Freedom and Justice Party (Egypt)|Freedom and Justice Party]], the political wing of the [[Islamism|Islamist]] [[Muslim Brotherhood]], to present a joint list of candidates for the [[2011–12 Egyptian parliamentary election|2011 parliamentary election]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/egypts-muslim-brotherhood-forms-coalition-with-liberal-party/2011/06/13/AGQI7OTH_story.html|title=Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood forms coalition|first=Leila|last=Fadel|author-link=Leila Fadel|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=13 June 2011|access-date=25 December 2025}}</ref> Executive members of Wafd have criticized the cooperation of the secular party with the Islamists.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/senior-wafd-party-members-object-coalition-muslim-brothers|title=Senior Wafd Party members object to coalition with Muslim Brothers|newspaper=[[Egypt Independent]]|first=Adel|last=el-Daragli|date=23 June 2011|access-date=25 December 2025}}</ref><ref>[http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RL33003.pdf Egypt in Transition.] Jeremy M. Sharp. Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs. 23 August 2011</ref> As the date neared for fielding candidate lists, the Wafd decided to participate in the elections independently, and left the [[Democratic Alliance for Egypt]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://carnegieendowment.org/posts/2011/09/wafd-party?lang=en|title=Wafd Party|publisher=[[Carnegie Endowment]]|access-date=25 December 2025|date=20 September 2011}}</ref>
In the subsequent [[2011–12 Egyptian parliamentary election|parliamentary election]], the New Wafd Party won 9.2% of the vote, and 38 seats in the 508-seat parliament. It was the third-most successful party, after the Islamist Freedom & Justice Party with 213 seats, and the more conservative Islamist [[Al-Nour Party]] with 107 seats. It had a slim lead over the other main secularist grouping, the [[Egyptian Bloc]].
===2015–2020=== ====Elections==== The Wafd Party successfully contested the [[2015 Egyptian parliamentary election|2015 parliamentary elections]], winning 36 seats, making it the third largest party in parliament. At the time it was led by El-Sayyid el-Badawi, and ran as part of the [[For the Love of Egypt]] electoral alliance.
====Tensions==== El-Badawi removed various members from the party in 2015, including Badrawi and Essam Shiha, who were leading the Wafd Reform Front, a faction of the party that called for El-Badawi's resignation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2015/05/30/al-wafd-party-leader-sacks-opponents-in-peak-of-internal-crisis/|title=Al-Wafd Party leader sacks opponents in peak of internal crisis|publisher=Daily News Egypt|date=30 May 2015|access-date=28 January 2026|first1=Amira|last1=El-Fekki}}</ref> Members of the Reform Front accused El-Badawi of "manipulating and squandering the party’s money."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2015/05/13/electoral-wars-trap-al-wafd-party-leadership/|title=Electoral wars trap Al-Wafd Party: Leadership|publisher=Daily News Egypt|date=12 May 2015|access-date=6 February 2026|first1=Emad|last1=El-Sayed}}</ref>
====Policies==== The Wafd Party has largely supported the Egyptian Government since the formation of the current parliament. It has strongly backed the economic reform programme embarked on by President Sisi,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.soutalomma.com/Article/786056/%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AF-%D8%B1%D8%A6%D9%8A%D8%B3-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D9%81%D8%AF-%D8%A5%D9%86%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D9%85%D9%84%D9%81-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D9%8A%D8%AD%D8%B3%D8%A8-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%A6%D9%8A%D8%B3-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%B3%D9%89|script-title=ar:مساعد رئيس الوفد: إنجاز ملف الاقتصاد يحسب للرئيس السيسى – صوت الأمة|date=11 April 2018|work=صوت الأمة|access-date=21 June 2018|language=ar-Ar}}</ref> believing it to be the key to Egypt's successful economic recovery from the [[Egyptian revolution of 2011|2011]] and [[2013 Egyptian coup d'état|2013]] revolutions.
In the international arena, the Wafd Party has strongly supported efforts to strengthen ties with other Arab countries, and especially form links with the African continent, in order to regain Egypt's leading and influential position in the African and Arab World, as a strong regional power. Being Egypt's oldest party, and having been set up 100 years ago, the party enjoys a powerful reputation among neighbouring countries, and often sends foreign delegations abroad to campaign for Egypt's interests.
====2018 party election==== In March 2018 [[Bahaa El-Din Abu Shoka]] won the internal party elections, becoming chairman of the Wafd Party.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2018/03/31/abu-shoqa-head-al-wafd-party-succeeding-al-sayed-al-badawi/|title=Abu Shoqa to head Al-Wafd party, succeeding Al-Sayed Al-Badawi|publisher=Daily News Egypt|date=31 March 2018|access-date=27 February 2026|first=Sarah|last=El-Sheikh}}</ref> He ran against Hossam al-Khouli, the "deputy head of the party", Yasser Hassan, "assistant chairman", and Alaa Shawali, who is the grandson of party leader [[Saad Zaghloul]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.egyptindependent.com/liberal-wafd-party-votes-to-elect-new-chairman/|title=Liberal Wafd Party votes to elect new chairman|publisher=Egypt Independent|date=30 March 2018|access-date=27 February 2026}}</ref>
===2020-2025=== The party joined the [[National Unified List for Egypt]] before the [[2020 Egyptian parliamentary election]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/0/379989/Egypt/0/Egypts-Mostaqbal-Watan-Party-leads-coalition-to-ru.aspx|title=Egypt's Mostaqbal Watan Party leads coalition to run in parliamentary elections|publisher=Ahram Online|date=14 September 2020|access-date=29 January 2026|first=Gamal|last=Essam El-Din}}</ref>
Nine members of the party were removed in February 2021; they opposed the party cooperating with the [[Nation's Future Party]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.madamasr.com/en/2021/02/11/feature/politics/nine-senior-figures-dismissed-from-wafd-party-in-purge-of-opposition-figures/|title=9 senior figures dismissed from Wafd Party in purge of opposition faction|work=[[Mada Masr]]|date=11 February 2021|access-date=13 January 2026}}</ref>
In March 2022 [[Abdel-Sanad Yamama]] won party elections and became the chairman of the Wafd Party.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Gamal|last=Essam El-Din |title=Egypt’s opposition El-Wafd party elects new leader |url=https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/462689.aspx |access-date=27 February 2026 |website=[[Ahram Online]]|language=en|date=12 March 2022}}</ref> He was the party's candidate in the [[2023 Egyptian presidential election]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 December 2023 |title=Egypt's presidential election: Who are the candidates? |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/egypts-presidential-election-who-are-candidates-2023-12-06/ |access-date=25 December 2025}}</ref>
The party had two seats allocated to it as part of the [[National Unified List for Egypt]] ahead of the [[2025 Egyptian Senate election]], which led to the "High Committee" of the party asking him to step aside; Yamama instead called for a [[vote of confidence]], to take place on 27 July.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thearabweekly.com/wafd-party-faces-internal-turmoil-over-marginalisation-egypts-electoral-list|first=Ahmed|last=Hafiz|title=Wafd party faces internal turmoil over marginalisation in Egypt’s electoral list |work=[[The Arab Weekly]]|date=14 July 2025|access-date=25 December 2025}}</ref> The party won nine elected seats in the [[2025 Egyptian parliamentary election]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/50/1201/560462/AlAhram-Weekly/Egypt/New-parliament-takes-its-seats.aspx|title=New parliament takes its seats|publisher=Ahram Online|date=14 January 2026|access-date=24 January 2026|first=Gamal|last=Essam El-Din}}</ref>
===2026-present=== The party is expected to hold a leadership election on 30 January 2026. Candidates include Hani Serrieddin and Eid Heikal; [[El-Sayyid el-Badawi]] and [[Bahaa El-Din Abu Shoka]] registered their candidacies on 5 January.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/50/1201/560065/AlAhram-Weekly/Egypt/Political-parties-seek-new-leaders.aspx|first=Gamal|last=Essam El-Din|title=Political parties seek new leaders|work=[[Al-Ahram Weekly]]|date=8 January 2026|access-date=21 January 2026}}</ref> Husseini El-Sharkawy was left out of the race for failing to complete nomination papers, while Yasser Hassan withdrew previously. Abu Shoka left the leadership election on 15 January 2026 and resigned from the party. Other candidates remaining in the race include Hamdy Qotta, and Essam El-Sabbahi.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/560561.aspx|first=Gamal|last=Essam El-Din|title=Abou Shoka withdraws from Wafd leadership race, resigns over electoral violations|work=[[Ahram Online]]|date=15 January 2026|access-date=21 January 2026}}</ref> El-Badawi won the election, defeating Serrieddin by eight votes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://see.news/el-sayyid-el-badawi-wins-narrow-victory-in-wafd-party-leadership-race|title=El-Sayyid el-Badawi Wins Narrow Victory in Wafd Party Leadership Race|work=Sada El Balad English|date=30 January 2026|access-date=27 February 2026|first=Taarek|last=Refaat}}</ref>
==Leaders== {{expand list|date=February 2026}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" ! Leader ! Took office ! Left office |- | [[Fouad Serageddin]] | ? | August 2000<ref name="aps">{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/EGYPT+-+Sept.+1+-+Opposition+Party+Gets+New+Leader.-a073739312|title=EGYPT - Sept. 1 - Opposition Party Gets New Leader.|work=APS Diplomat Recorder|date=2 September 2000|access-date=20 March 2026}}</ref> |- |- | [[Numan Gumaa]] |September 2000<ref name="aps"/> | ? |- | [[El-Sayyid el-Badawi]] |May 2010<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2010/11/24/primer-egypts-political-parties|title=Primer: Egypt’s political parties|work=Al Jazeera English|date=24 November 2010|access-date=27 February 2026|first=Evan|last=Hill}}</ref> | n/a |- | El-Sayyid el-Badawi |April 2014<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2014/04/26/al-sayed-al-badawi-wins-al-wafd-party-presidency/|title=Al-Sayed Al-Badawi wins Al-Wafd Party presidency|work=Daily News Egypt|date=26 April 2014|access-date=27 February 2026|first=Aya|last=Nader}}</ref> | 2018 |- | [[Bahaa El-Din Abu Shoka]] | March 2018<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2018/03/31/abu-shoqa-head-al-wafd-party-succeeding-al-sayed-al-badawi/|title=Abu Shoqa to head Al-Wafd party, succeeding Al-Sayed Al-Badawi |work=Daily News Egypt|date=31 March 2018|access-date=27 February 2026|first=Sarah|last=El-Sheikh}}</ref> | 2022 |- | [[Abdel-Sanad Yamama]] | March 2022<ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/462689.aspx|title=Egypt’s opposition El-Wafd party elects new leader|work=Ahram Online|date=12 March 2022|access-date=27 February 2026|first=Gamal|last=Essam El-Din}}</ref> | 2026 |- | El-Sayyid el-Badawi | January 2026<ref>{{cite web|url=https://see.news/el-sayyid-el-badawi-wins-narrow-victory-in-wafd-party-leadership-race|title=El-Sayyid el-Badawi Wins Narrow Victory in Wafd Party Leadership Race|work=Sada El-Balad|date=30 January 2026|access-date=27 February 2026|first=Tarek|last=Refaat }}</ref> | Present |}
== Electoral history ==
=== Presidential elections === {| class=wikitable style=text-align:center !Election !Party candidate !Votes !% !Result |- |[[2005 Egyptian presidential election|2005]] | [[Numan Gumaa]] |208,891 |2.93% |'''Lost''' {{N}} |- |[[2023 Egyptian presidential election|2023]] | [[Abdel-Sanad Yamama]] |822,606 |1.86% |'''Lost''' {{N}} |}
===Shura Council elections=== {| class=wikitable style=text-align:center !Election !Seats !+/– |- |[[2012 Egyptian Shura Council election|2012]] |{{Composition bar|14|270}} |{{increase}} 14 |}
=== People's Assembly of Egypt elections === {| class=wikitable style=text-align:center !Election !Party leader !Votes !% !Seats !+/– !Position |- |[[1984 Egyptian parliamentary election|1984]] | rowspan="4" |[[Fouad Serageddin]] |778,131 |15.1% |{{Composition bar|58|458|{{party color|New Wafd Party}}}} |{{increase}} 58 |{{increase}} 2nd |- |[[1987 Egyptian parliamentary election|1987]] |746,023 |10.9% |{{Composition bar|35|458|{{party color|New Wafd Party}}}} |{{decrease}} 23 |{{decrease}} 3rd |- |[[1990 Egyptian parliamentary election|1990]] | colspan="2" |Boycotted |{{Composition bar|0|454|{{party color|New Wafd Party}}}} |{{decrease}} 35 | |- |[[1995 Egyptian parliamentary election|1995]] | | |{{Composition bar|6|454|{{party color|New Wafd Party}}}} |{{increase}} 6 |{{increase}} 2nd |- |[[2000 Egyptian parliamentary election|2000]] |[[Numan Gumaa]] | | |{{Composition bar|7|454|{{party color|New Wafd Party}}}} |{{increase}} 1 |{{steady}} 2nd |- |[[2005 Egyptian parliamentary election|2005]] |[[Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour]] | |1.3% |{{Composition bar|6|444|{{party color|New Wafd Party}}}} |{{decrease}} 1 |{{steady}} 2nd |- |[[2010 Egyptian parliamentary election|2010]] | rowspan="2" |[[El-Sayyid el-Badawi]] | |1.1% |{{Composition bar|6|514|{{party color|New Wafd Party}}}} |{{steady}} |{{steady}} 2nd |- |[[2011–12 Egyptian parliamentary election|2011–2012]] |2,480,391 |9.2% |{{Composition bar|38|508|hex={{party color|New Wafd Party}}}} |{{increase}} 32 |{{decrease}} 3rd |}
=== House of Representatives elections === {| class=wikitable style=text-align:center !Election !Party leader !Votes !% !Seats !+/– !Position |- |[[2015 Egyptian parliamentary election|2015]] |[[El-Sayyid el-Badawi]] | | |{{Composition bar|36|596|hex={{party color|New Wafd Party}}}} |{{decrease}} 2 |{{steady}} 3rd |- |[[2020 Egyptian parliamentary election|2020]] | [[Bahaa El-Din Abu Shoka]] | | |{{Composition bar|25|596|hex={{party color|New Wafd Party}}}} |{{decrease}} 11 |{{steady}} 3rd<ref>{{Cite web |title=Egypt {{!}} House of Representatives {{!}} 2020 |url=https://data.ipu.org/node/53/elections |access-date=9 August 2022 |website=Parline: the IPU’s Open Data Platform |publisher=[[Inter-Parliamentary Union]] |language=en }}{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> |- |[[2025 Egyptian parliamentary election|2025]] | [[Abdel-Sanad Yamama]] | | |{{Composition bar|12|596|hex={{party color|New Wafd Party}}}} |{{decrease}} 13 | |}
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Official website|Al-Wafd}} {{in lang|ar}}
{{Egyptian political parties}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:1978 establishments in Egypt]] [[Category:Conservative parties in Egypt]] [[Category:Egyptian nationalist parties]] [[Category:Liberal parties in Egypt]] [[Category:National liberal parties]] [[Category:Political parties established in 1978]] [[Category:Secularism in Egypt]]