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. While opposition parties are legally allowed to operate, they are considered too weak or ineffective to seriously take power. In contrast to single-party systems, which tend to be authoritarian, dominant-party systems can occur within a context of a democratic system. Dominant-party systems have been criticized because corruption and insensitivity to public demands tend to arise for lack of an effective opposition.

A further distinction from a single-party system is that under the latter, 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.

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.

Examples

Examples of dominant-party systems that exists till today include:

The People's Action Party in Singapore since 1959
The National Democratic Party in Egypt since 1978.
The Liberal Democratic Party in Japan since 1955 (They, however, did not dominate during the period of 1993-1996).
The Barisan Nasional (National Front) in Malaysia, itself a coalition dominated by the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), has led the government since independence in 1957.

Others which have since lost their dominance include:

The Labor Party in Israel until 1977
The Partido Revolucionario Institucional in Mexico from the 1920s until 2000
Democrazia Cristiana in Italy from 1948 to 1992.
Arguably, the Democratic Party was a dominant party nationwide in the United States during the Era of Good Feelings, and after the end of Reconstruction in the 1880s through 1970 in the Southern United States.

Ireland can also be classified as a dominant-party system, with Fianna Fáil ruling more than two-thirds of the time since independence. All six of Fianna Fáil's leaders have served as taoiseach (prime minister) at some point in time.

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)
Hizbi ad-Dimuqratiya al-Wataniya
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, 1957-1988
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%
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)

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 ^* 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 Koizumi Junichiro, in office since April 26, 2001
In power 1955–1993, and since 1996
Parliamentary election, 2005: LDP 47.8% and 296 out of 480 seats

Kazakhstan (OTAN)

Malaysia

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

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
- Parliamentary election, 2006: PAP 66.6% and 82 out of 84 seats (of which 37 uncontested)

Syria (Ba'ath)

Tajikistan (PDPT)

Uzbekistan (FID)

Yemen (GPC)

Europe

Andorra (PLA)

Armenia (RPA)

Azerbaijan (YAP)

Republic of Ireland

Fianna Fáil-The Republican Party (FF)
Led by Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern, in office since 26 June, 1997
In power 1932-1948, 1951-1954, 1957-1973, 1977-1982, 1987-1994, and since 1997 (in power for 68% of the time since 1921)
Presidential election, 2004: President Mary McAleese elected unopposed
Parliamentary election, 2002: FF 81 seats (three short of an absolute majority)

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

Sweden

Swedish Social Democratic Party
Led by Prime Minister Göran Persson, in office since March 22, 1996
In power 1917-1920 (coalition), 1921-1923, 1924-1926, 1932-1936, 1936-1976 (1936-1945 and 1951-1957 in coalition), 1982-1991 and since 1994
Parliamentary election, 2002: 39.85% and 144 out of 349 seats