National Progressive Front

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Syria

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The National Progressive Front (NPF), established in 1972, is a coalition of political parties in Syria which support the socialist and Arab nationalist orientation of the government and accept the leading role in society of the Arab Socialist Ba’th Party.

The Front was established by Syrian president Hafiz al-Asad to provide for a limited degree of participation in government by political parties other than the ruling Ba'th Party. Its constitution provides that the Ba'th Party controls 50% plus one of the votes on its executive committee. A number of seats in the Syrian parliament are reserved for members of NPF parties other than the Ba'th Party.

From 1972 to date, only parties participating in the NPF have been legally permitted to operate in Syria. There is currently considerable discussion in Syria regarding a proposed new law which will allow political parties to be formed more generally: it is as yet unclear whether the parties to be licensed under this law would be required to join the NPF.

The NPF comprises seven political parties, as follows:

• Arab Socialist Ba'th Party (Article 8 of the Syrian constitution states that "the Arab Socialist Ba'th Party leads the state and society"),
• Arab Socialist Union Party,
• Arab Socialist Party,
• Syrian Social Nationalist Party
• Syrian Communist Party (Yusuf Faisal group),
• Syrian Communist Party (Khalid Bakdash group)
• Union Socialist Party,
• Union Socialist Democratic Party