Wafd Party

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In post-World War I Egypt, the term wafd (وفد) referred to a "delegation", and more specifically the one that had the direct goal of achieving the complete and total independence of Egypt. This delegation hoped to gain representation at the 1919 Paris Peace Conference. This was strictly denied by the British High Commissioner.

The wafd therefore brought their demands to the Egyptian populace. This led to the formation of the nationalist Wafd Party (حزب الوفد المصري), with Saad Zaghlul as its democratically elected leader that same year. The party rapidly became the dominant political organization in the country, and was the governing party (albeit in a subordinate role to the executive power of the king) through most of the liberal period which came to an end with the rise of Gamal Abdel Nasser. The party was dissolved in 1952, after the military coup of that year.

Leaders: