dominant-party system

A dominant-party system is a party system where only one political party can realistically become the government, by itself or in a coalition government, because all other parties are too weak. Dominant-party systems are not to be confused with single-party systems, when other parties cannot compete to become the government because they are banned. Dominant-party systems exist only in states where other political parties are tolerated, but do not receive enough votes to have a realistic chance of winning. However, in some dominant-party systems, opposition parties are subject to varying degrees of official harassment and most often deal with rules and electoral systems designed to put them at a disadvantage or in some cases outright electoral fraud. Examples of dominant-party systems include National Democratic Party in Egypt, the PRI in Mexico from the 1920s until 2000, the PAP in Singapore, the Democratic Party in the southern United States from about 1880 until the 1960s, and the Liberal Democratic Party in Japan from the 1950s until the present. Dominant-party systems can occur temporarily. This can often occur when a two-party system is the norm, but one of the two parties sees a massive drop in support, often due to scandal or similar massive upset. An example of this is, arguably, the United Kingdom between 1979 and 1997 (18 years) where the Conservative party won all four elections in that period. Previously, in the post-war period, the government had rotated from Labour Party to Conservative Party five times. Contemporary Canada would also qualify as a dominant-party system, with the Liberal Party being quite dominant since 1896 ruling almost three quarters of the time in that period, and continuously since 1993. In the party's history, Edward Blake is the only leader of the Liberal Party ever to not have been Prime Minister of Canada at some time. For some of the period, including today, the Liberals have ruled in a minority government. Though the United States as a whole is characterized by a competitive two-party system, some individual states may qualify as a dominant-party system.

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 Libertao de Angola - Partido do Trabalho (MPLA-PT)
Led by President Jos Eduardo dos Santos, in office since 10 September 1979
In power since independence, 11 November 1975
Sole legal party, 1977-1991
Presidential election, 1992: Jos 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
Congrs pour la Dmocratie et le Progrs (CDP)
Led by President Blaise Compaor, in office since 15 October 1987
In power, under various names, since 24 December 1991
Presidential election, 1998: Blaise Compaor (CDP) 87.5%
Parliamentary election, 2002: CDP 49.5% and 47 of 91 seats

Cameroon

Cameroonian People's Democratic Movement
Rassemblement dmocratique 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) 75.2%
Parliamentary election, 2002: RDPC 133 of 180 seats

Chad

Patriotic Salvation Movement
Mouvement patriotique du Salut (MPS)
Led by President Idriss Dby, in office since 2 December 1990
In power since 2 December 1990
Presidential election, 2001: Idriss Dby (MPS) 67.3%
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 from 1 January 1969 to 31 August 1992 and since 15 October 1997
Sole legal party, 1970-1990
Presidential election, 2002: Denis Sassou-Nguesso (PCT) 89.4%
Parliamentary election, 2002: PCT 52 of 137 seats

Djibouti

Popular Rally for Progress
Rassemblement populaire pour le Progrs (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, 1999: Ismail Omar Guelleh (RPP) 73.9%
Parliamentary election, 2003: RPP in coalition, 62.7% and 65 of 65 seats

Egypt

National Democratic Party (NDP)
Hizbi ad-Dimuqratiya al-Wataniya
Led by President Hosni Mubarak, in office since 14 October 1981
In power since its formation in 1978
Presidential referendum, 1999: Hosni Mubarak (NDP) 93.8%
Parliamentary election, 2000: NDP 388 of 444 seats

Equatorial Guinea

Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea
Partido Democrtico 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, 2000: EPRDF 481 of 527 seats

Gabon

Gabonese Democratic Party
Parti dmocratique gabonais (PDG)
Led by President Omar Bongo, in office since 28 November 1967
In power, under various names, since independence, 17 August 1960
Sole legal party, 1968-1991
Presidential election, 1998: Omar Bongo (PDG) 66.9%
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'Unit et du Progrs (PUP)
Led by President Lansana Cont, in office since 3 April 1984
In power since its formation in 1991
Presidential election, 2003: Lansana Cont (PUP) 95.6%
Parliamentary election, 2002: PUP 61.6% and 47 of 76 seats

Malawi

United Democratic Front (UDF)
Led by President Bingu wa Mutharika, in office since 24 May 2004
In power since 21 May 1994
Presidential election, 2004: Bingu wa Mutharika (UDF) 35.9%
Parliamentary election, 2004: UDF 49 of 194 seats (Malawi Congress Party, 60 of 194 seats)

Mauritania

Democratic and Social Republican Party
Parti rpublicain dmocratique et social (PRDS)
Led by President Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya, in office since 12 December 1984
In power since its formation in 1992
Presidential election, 2003: Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya (PRDS) 66.7%
Parliamentary election, 2001: PRDS 51.0% and 64 of 81 seats

Mozambique

Mozambican Liberation Front
Frente da Libertao de Moambique (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) 95.0%
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 Ren (SPPF) 54.2% (Ren 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 Benjamin William Mkapa, in office since 23 November 1995
In power, under various names, since independence, 9 December 1961
Sole legal party, 1975-1992 (unofficially from independence in 1961)
Presidential election, 2000: Benjamin William Mkapa (CCM) 71.7%
Parliamentary election, 2000: CCM 244 of 269 seats

Togo

Rally of the Togolese People
Rassemblement du Peuple togolais (RPT)
Led by President Faure Gnassingb, in office since 5 February 2005
In power since its formation in 1980
Sole legal party, 1980-1992
Presidential election, 2003: Gnassingb Eyadma (RPT) 57.8% (deceased, 5 February 2005)
Parliamentary election, 2002: RPT 72 of 81 seats

Tunisia

Democratic Constitutional Rally
Rassemblement constitutionnel dmocratique (RCD)
Led by President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, in office since 7 November 1987
In power since 25 July 1957
Sole legal party, 1957-1988
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%
Parliamentary election, 2000: ZANU-PF 48.6% and 82 of 150 seats

Americas

Canada

Liberal Party of Canada (LPC)
Parti libral du Canada (PLC)
Led by Prime Minister Paul Martin, in office since 12 December 2003
In power 1873-1878, 1896-1911, 1921-1926, 1926-1930, 1935-1957, 1963-1979, 1980-1984, 1993-present (in government for 72% of the modern era - since 1896)
Parliamentary election, 2004: LPC 36.7% and 135 of 308 seats

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
Asociacin Nacional Republicana - Partido Colorado (ANR-PC)
Led by President Nicanor Duarte, in office since 15 August 2003
In power 1880-1904 and since 15 August 1948
Presidential election, 2003: Nicanor Duarte (ANR-PC) 38.3%
Parliamentary election, 2003: ANR-PC 35.3% and 37 of 80 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 (LDP)
Kazakhstan (OTAN)

Malaysia

United Malays National Organisation (UMNO)
Led by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, in office since 31 October 2003
In power since 1959 (in coalition with the Barisan Nasional)
Parliamentary election, 2004: UMNO 35.9% and 109 of 219 seats, total for Barisan Nasional 63.9% and 198 of 219 seats

Palestinian Authority (PLO)
Samoa (HRPP)

Singapore

People's Action Party (PAP)
Led by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, in office since 12 August 2004
In power since 30 May 1959
Presidential election, 1999: Sellapan Rama Nathan walkover
Parliamentary election, 2001: PAP 97.6% and 82 of 84 seats

Syria (Ba'ath)
Tajikistan (PDPT)
Uzbekistan (FID)
Yemen (GPC)

Europe

Andorra (PLA)
Armenia (RPA)
Azerbaijan (YAP)
Republic of Georgia (NM-D)