The National Progressive Front (Arabic: الجبهة الوطنية التقدمية, al-Jabha al-Waṭaniyyah al-Taqaddumiyyah, NPF) is a pro-government coalition of left-wing parties in Syria that supports the Arab nationalist and Arab socialist orientation of the government and accepts the "leading role" of the ruling Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party. The coalition was formed on the basis of the Popular Front model of Socialist Bloc, through which Syrian Ba'ath party governs the country by permitting nominal participation of smaller, satellite parties. The NPF is part of Ba'ath Party's efforts to expand its support base and neutralize prospects for any sustainable liberal or left-wing opposition, by instigating splits within independent leftist parties or repressing them.[a]
National Progressive Front الجبهة الوطنية التقدمية | |
|---|---|
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| President | Bashar al-Assad |
| Vice-President | Mohammad al-Shaar[1] |
| Founder | Hafez al-Assad |
| Founded | 1972 |
| Headquarters | Damascus |
| Ideology | Pro-Syrian government Arab nationalism Arab socialism Pan-Arabism Secularism Anti-Zionism |
| Political position | Factions: Left-wing to far-left |
| People's Assembly | 183 / 250 |
| Council of Ministers | 20 / 35 |
| Website | |
| pnf | |
NPF model has been instrumentalized by the Ba'athist system to enforce a highly centralized Presidential system.[7] The satellite parties within the NPF have smaller political power and largely function as networks for mobilizing loyalty to the government. Student activism and political activities in armed forces are strictly prohibited for non-Ba'athist parties in the NPF, amongst other restrictions.[8][9]
History
The Front was established in 1972 by Syrian president Hafez al-Assad to provide for a limited degree of participation in government by political parties other than the ruling Ba'ath Party.[10] While NPF has little influence in central bodies such as the People's Assembly, it was given more say at the local level, where non-Ba'athists and independent candidates are fielded. While the Ba'ath Party controls vast majority of votes in the central committees, a number of seats in the local are allotted for members of other NPF parties and independents. These minor parties are legally required to accept the leadership of the Ba'ath Party. The non-Ba'athist parties in the Progressive Front, for example, are not allowed to canvass for supporters in the army or the student body which are "reserved exclusively for the Ba'ath."[11]
From 1972 to 2011, only parties participating in the NPF had been legally permitted to operate in Syria. The Legislative Decree on Parties law of 2011,[12] Legislative Decree on General Elections Law of 2011[13] and the new Syrian constitution of 2012[14] introduced multi-party system in Syria.
After previously being a part of NPF, Syrian Social Nationalist Party joined the opposition, Popular Front for Change and Liberation, for the May 2012 election to the parliament. However, the SSNP supported the re-election of Bashar al-Assad in the June 2014 presidential election and subsequently rejoined the front.[15]
Constituent parties
The NPF is currently composed of the following political parties:
Electoral history
Syrian People's Assembly elections
| Election | Seats | +/– | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 186 / 186 |  186 | 1st |
| 1977 | 195 / 195 | 9 |  1st |
| 1981 | 195 / 195 | | 1st |
| 1986 | 195 / 195 | | 1st |
| 1990 | 250 / 250 | 55 | 1st |
| 1994 | 250 / 250 | | 1st |
| 1998 | 250 / 250 | | 1st |
| 2003 | 250 / 250 | | 1st |
| 2007 | 250 / 250 | | 1st |
| 2012 | 168 / 250 |  82 | 1st |
| 2016 | 200 / 250 | 32 | 1st |
| 2020 | 183 / 250 | 17 | 1st |