Dominant-party system

A dominant-party system, or one party dominant system, is a party system where only one political party can realistically become the government, by itself or in a coalition government. Under what has been referred to as "electoralism" or "soft authoritarianism", opposition parties are legally allowed to operate, but are considered too weak or ineffective to seriously take power. Dominant-party systems have been criticized because corruption and insensitivity to public demands tend to arise for lack of an effective opposition.

In contrast to single-party systems, which tend to be authoritarian, dominant-party systems can occur within a context of a democratic system. In a single-party system other parties are banned, but in dominant-party systems other political parties are tolerated, but do not have a realistic chance of winning.

In some states opposition parties are subject to varying degrees of official harassment and most often deal with restrictions on free speech, rules and electoral systems (such as gerrymandering of electoral districts) designed to put them at a disadvantage. In some cases outright electoral fraud keep the oppositon rom power. On the other hand, some dominant-party system occur in countries that are widely seen, both by their citizens and outside observers, to be textbook examples of democracy. The reasons why a dominant-party system may form in such a country are often debated: Supporters of the dominant party tend to argue that their party is simply doing a good job in government and the opposition continuously proposes unrealistic or unpopular changes, while supporters of the opposition tend to argue that the electoral system disfavors them (for example because it is based on the principle of first past the post), or that the dominant party receives a disproportionate amount of funding from various sources and is therefore able to mount more persuasive campaigns.

Current dominant-party systems

The following countries are claimed by many to be dominant-party systems:

Africa

Angola

• Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola - Workers' Party
• Movimento Popular da Libertação de Angola - Partido do Trabalho (MPLA-PT)
• Led by President José Eduardo dos Santos, in office since 10 September 1979
• In power since independence, 11 November 1975
• Sole legal party, 1977-1991
• Presidential election, 1992: José Eduardo dos Santos (MPLA-PT) 49.6%
• Parliamentary election, 1992: MPLA 53.7% and 129 of 220 seats

Botswana

• Botswana Democratic Party (BDP)
• Led by President Festus Gontebanye Mogae, in office since 1 April 1998
• In power since independence, 30 September 1966
• Parliamentary election, 2004: BDP 51.7% and 44 of 57 seats

Burkina Faso

• Congress for Democracy and Progress
• Congrès pour la Démocratie et le Progrès (CDP)
• Led by President Blaise Compaoré, in office since 15 October 1987
• In power, under various names, since 24 December 1991
• Presidential election, 2005: Blaise Compaoré (CDP) 80.4%
• Parliamentary election, 2002: CDP 49.5% and 47 of 91 seats

Cameroon

• Cameroonian People's Democratic Movement
• Rassemblement démocratique du Peuple camerounais (RDPC)
• Led by President Paul Biya, in office since 6 November 1982
• In power, under various names, since independence, 1 January 1960
• Sole legal party, 1966-1990
• Presidential election, 2004: Paul Biya (RDPC) 70.9%
• Parliamentary election, 2002: RDPC 133 of 180 seats

Chad

• Patriotic Salvation Movement
• Mouvement patriotique du Salut (MPS)
• Led by President Idriss Déby, in office since 2 December 1990
• In power since 2 December 1990
• Presidential election, 2001: Idriss Déby (MPS) 63.2%
• Parliamentary election, 2002: MPS 110 of 155 seats

Congo-Brazzaville

• Congolese Labour Party
• Parti congolais du Travail (PCT)
• Led by President Denis Sassou-Nguesso, in office from 8 February 1979 to 31 August 1992 and since 15 October 1997
• In power, under various names, from 1963 to 1992 and since 1997
• Sole legal party, 1963-1990
• Presidential election, 2002: Denis Sassou-Nguesso (PCT) 89.4%
• Parliamentary election, 2002: PCT 53 of 137 seats

Djibouti

• Popular Rally for Progress
• Rassemblement populaire pour le Progrès (RPP)
• Led by President Ismail Omar Guelleh, in office since 8 May 1999
• In power since its formation in 1979
• Sole legal party, 1979-1992
• Presidential election, 2005: Ismail Omar Guelleh (RPP) re-elected unopposed
• Parliamentary election, 2003: RPP in coalition, 62.4% and 65 of 65 seats

Egypt

• National Democratic Party (NDP)
• Al-Hizb Al-Watany Al-Demoqraty
• Led by President Hosni Mubarak, in office since 14 October 1981
• In power since its formation in 1978.
• Presidential election, 2005: Hosni Mubarak (NDP) 88.6%
• Parliamentary election, 2000: NDP 388 of 444 seats

Equatorial Guinea

• Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea
• Partido Democrático de Guinea Ecuatorial (PDGE)
• Led by President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, in office since 3 August 1979
• In power since its formation in 1987
• Sole legal party, 1987-1991
• Presidential election, 2002: Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo (PDGE) 97.1%
• Parliamentary election, 2004: PDGE 47.5% and 68 of 100 seats (91.9% and 98 of 100 seats including allies)

Ethiopia

• Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF)
• Led by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, in office since 28 May 1991 (as prime minister since 22 August 1995)
• In power since 28 May 1991
• Parliamentary election, 2005: EPRDF 327 of 547 seats

Gabon

• Gabonese Democratic Party
• Parti démocratique gabonais (PDG)
• Led by President Omar Bongo Ondimba, in office since 28 November 1967
• In power, under various names, since independence, 17 August 1960
• Sole legal party, 1968-1991
• Presidential election, 2005: Omar Bongo Ondimba (PDG) 79.2%
• Parliamentary election, 2001: PDG 88 of 120 seats

The Gambia

• Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC)
• Led by President Yahya A. J. J. Jammeh, in office since 22 July 1994
• In power since its formation in 1996
• Presidential election, 2001: Yahya A. J. J. Jammeh (APRC) 52.8%
• Parliamentary election, 2002: APRC 45 of 53 seats

Guinea

• Party of Unity and Progress
• Parti de l'Unité et du Progrès (PUP)
• Led by President Lansana Conté, in office since 3 April 1984
• In power since its formation in 1991
• Presidential election, 2003: Lansana Conté (PUP) 95.6%
• Parliamentary election, 2002: PUP 61.6% and 47 of 76 seats

Mozambique

• Mozambican Liberation Front
• Frente da Libertação de Moçambique (FRELIMO)
• Led by President Armando Guebuza, in office since 2 February 2005
• In power since independence, 25 June 1975
• Sole legal party, 1975-1990
• Presidential election, 2004: Armando Guebuza (FRELIMO) 63.7%
• Parliamentary election, 2004: FRELIMO 62.0% and 160 of 250 seats

Namibia

• South-West African People's Organisation (SWAPO)
• Led by President Hifikepunye Pohamba, in office since 21 March 2005
• In power since independence, 21 March 1990
• Presidential election, 2004: Hifikepunye Pohamba (SWAPO) 76.4%
• Parliamentary election, 2004: SWAPO 55 of 72 seats

Nigeria

• People's Democratic Party (PDP)
• Led by President Olusegun Obasanjo, in office as civilian since 29 May 1999 (non-partisan military dictator from 14 February 1976 to 1 October 1979)
• In power since 29 May 1999
• Presidential election, 2003: Olusegun Obasanjo (PDP) 61.8%
• Parliamentary election, 2003: PDP 54.8% and 198 of 318 seats

Rwanda

• Rwandese Patriotic Front
• Front patriotique rwandais (FPR)
• Led by President Paul Kagame, in office since 24 March 2000
• In power since 19 July 1994
• Presidential election, 2003: Paul Kagame (FPR) 95.1%
• Parliamentary election, 2003: FPR 73.8% and 40 of 53 seats

Seychelles

• Seychelles People's Progressive Front (SPPF)
• Led by President James Alix Michel, in office since 14 April 2004
• In power since 5 June 1977
• Sole legal party, 1979-1993
• Presidential election, 2001: France-Albert René (SPPF) 54.2% (René retired, 14 April 2004)
• Parliamentary election, 2002: SPPF 54.3% and 23 of 34 seats

South Africa

• African National Congress (ANC)
• Led by President Thabo Mbeki, in office since 16 June 1999
• In power since 10 May 1994
• Parliamentary election, 2004: ANC 69.7% and 279 of 400 seats

Sudan

• National Congress Party (NCP)
• Led by President Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir, in office since 30 June 1989
• In power since its formation, 16 October 1993
• Presidential election, 2000: Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir (NCP) 86.5%
• Parliamentary election, 2000: NCP 355 of 360 seats

Tanzania

• Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM)
• Led by President Jakaya Kikwete, in office since 21 December 2005
• In power, under various names, since independence, 9 December 1961
• Sole legal party, 1975-1992 (unofficially from independence in 1961)
• Presidential election, 2005: Jakaya Kikwete (CCM) 80.3%
• Parliamentary election, 2005: CCM 206 of 232 seats

Togo

• Rally of the Togolese People
• Rassemblement du Peuple togolais (RPT)
• Led by President Faure Gnassingbé, in office since 5 February 2005
• In power since its formation in 1980
• Sole legal party, 1979-1991
• Presidential election, 2005: Faure Gnassingbé (RPT) 60.2%
• Parliamentary election, 2002: RPT 72 of 81 seats

Tunisia

• Democratic Constitutional Rally
• Rassemblement constitutionnel démocratique (RCD)
• Led by President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, in office since 7 November 1987
• In power since 25 July 1957
• Sole legal party, 1957-1981?
• Presidential election, 2004: Zine El Abidine Ben Ali (RCD) 94.5%
• Parliamentary election, 2004: RCD 87.6% and 152 of 189 seats

Zambia

• Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD)
• Led by President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, in office since 2 January 2002
• In power since 2 November 1991
• Presidential election, 2001: Levy Patrick Mwanawasa (MMD) 29.1%
• Parliamentary election, 2001: MMD 27.5% and 69 of 150 seats

Zimbabwe

• Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF)
• Led by President Robert Gabriel Mugabe, in office since 18 April 1980 (as president since 31 December 1987)
• In power since independence, 17 April 1980
• Presidential election, 2002: Robert Gabriel Mugabe (ZANU-PF) 56.2%
• House of Assembly election, 2005: ZANU-PF 59.6% and 78 of 120 elective seats (30 additional seats reserved for appointees)
• Senate election, 2005: ZANU-PF 73.7% and 43 of 50 elective seats (16 additional seats reserved for appointees and traditional chiefs)

Western Saharas Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic

• Polisario Front
• In power since 1976
• Led by Secretary General Mohamed Abdelaziz
• General Popular Congress 2002: 100%
• In 2004, a splinter group, the Front Polisario Khat al-Shahid was announced.

Americas

El Salvador

• Nationalist Republican Alliance
• Alianza Republicana Nacionalista (ARENA)
• Led by President Antonio Saca, in office since 1 June 2004
• In power since 1 June 1989
• Presidential election, 2004: Antonio Saca (ARENA) 57.7%
• Parliamentary election, 2003: ARENA 32.0% and 27 of 84 seats (FMLN 33.8% and 31 of 84 seats)

Paraguay

• Republican National Association - Colorado Party
• Asociación Nacional Republicana - Partido Colorado (ANR-PC)
• Led by President Nicanor Duarte, in office since 15 August 2003
• In power 1880-1904 and since 1947
• Sole legal party, 1947-1962
• Presidential election, 2003: Nicanor Duarte (ANR-PC) 38.3%
• Parliamentary election, 2003: ANR-PC 35.3% and 37 of 80 seats

Venezuela

• Fifth Republic Movement
• Movimiento V [Quinta] República
• Led by President Hugo Chávez, in office since February 2, 1999
• In power since 1999
• Presidential election, 2000: Hugo Chávez 59.76%
• Parliamentary election, 2005: 114 of 167 seats

Asia

Cambodia (KPK)

East Timor

• Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor or FRETILIN
• Led by Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri, in office since May 20, 2002
• In power since 2002
• Parliamentary election, 2001: FRETILIN 57.37% and 55 out of 88 seats

Japan

• Liberal Democratic Party
• Led by Prime Minister Shinzō Abe, in office since September 26, 2006
• In power 1955–1993, and since 1996
• Parliamentary election, 2005: LDP 47.8% and 296 out of 480 seats

Kazakhstan (OTAN)

Malaysia

• Barisan Nasional (National Front), a coalition of 14 parties led by the United Malays National Organization (UMNO)
• Led by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, in office since October 31, 2003
• In power since 1957
• Parliamentary election, 2004: UMNO 35.9% and 109 out of 219 seats, total for Barisan Nasional 63.9% and 198 out of 219 seats

Myanmar

• National Unity Party
• Led by Senior General Than Shwe
• Has been a military regime since 1998.

Samoa (HRPP)

Singapore

• People's Action Party (PAP)
• Led by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, in office since August 12, 2004
• In power since May 30, 1959
• Presidential election, 2005: President S R Nathan elected unopposed (all competing candidates disqualified)
• Parliamentary election, 2006: PAP 66.6% and 82 out of 84 seats (of which 37 uncontested)

Tajikistan (PDPT)

Yemen (GPC)

Europe

Azerbaijan (YAP)

Republic of Georgia (NM-D)

Russia

• United Russia
• Led by President Vladimir Putin, in office since December 31, 1999 (officially not a member of any party)
• In power since 2003
• Presidential election, 2004: Vladimir Putin 71.2%
• Parliamentary election, 2003: 38.0% and 222 of 450 seats

See also

• List of democracy and elections-related topics