The al-Geel Party was established on February 9, 2002.  Nagi al-Shihaby is the party leader and was formerly a member of the Shura Council. He has called for the adoption of a party list electoral system.  Al-Shihaby has personally expressed his support for Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons and he maintains that the United States poses the greatest threat to Arab and Islamic countries. Another prominent party member, Ali al-Badry, is a journalist and vocal advocate of labor unions and their right to organize.

In September 2004, al-Geel joined an alliance of eight legal political parties that aimed to promote political reform through dialogue between the opposition and the regime.  Al-Geel declined to join the “shadow government” proposed by other minor opposition parties and has publicly dismissed the coalition as absurd and ineffective.

During the 2010 People’s Assembly elections, the party won one seat. The party played no significant role in the January 2011 revolution. After former President Mubarak’s resignation in February, al-Shihaby called for free and fair parliamentary and presidential elections and constitutional amendments, as well as engagement of youth for more comprehensive development of government.
Al-Geel welcomed Mohammed ElBaradei’s 2010 entry into the Egyptian opposition scene.  The party’s president has stated that ElBaradei’s participation in the upcoming presidential election will bring credibility to the race and increase the likelihood that the voting process will be conducted in a fair and transparent manner.

Party Platform:

Political Issues:

• Supporting the legal equality of all citizens, regardless of religious affiliation
• Promoting democratic reforms within a multi-party system

Socio-economic Issues:

• Strengthening agricultural output by investing in new infrastructure and technology
• Providing state-subsidized housing to those in need
• Considering youth as a top priority; adopting a long-term strategy for youth resurgence by adopting the newly created National Youth Council
• Improving the situation of teachers via training programs and increasing salaries
• Improving educational curriculum

Foreign Policy Issues:

• Affirming Egypt’s role as a leader of the Arab states and the Islamic community
• Improving the integration of Nile basin countries
• Resisting U.S. intervention in Egyptian and regional affairs

Parliamentary Representation:

Shura Council Elections

2010: 1 seat

Major Party Figures:
Nagi al-Shihabi: President

From Guide to Egypt’s Transition, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: http://egyptelections.carnegieendowment.org/2010/09/15/democratic-generation-al-geel-party

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