The 'National Progressive Front' (, ''al-Jabha al-Wataniyyah at-Taqaddumiyyah'', NPF), established in 1972, is a coalition of political parties in
Syria that support the
socialist and
Arab nationalist orientation of the government and accept the leading role in society of the
Arab Socialist Ba’th Party.
The Front was established by Syrian president
Hafiz al-Asad to provide for a limited degree of participation in government by political parties other than the ruling Ba'th Party. Its constitution provides that the Ba'th Party controls 50% plus one of the votes on its executive committee. A number of seats in the
People's Council of Syria are reserved for members of NPF parties other than the Ba'th Party.
From
1972 to date, only parties participating in the NPF have been legally permitted to operate in Syria. There is currently considerable discussion in Syria regarding a proposed new law which will allow political parties to be formed more generally: it is as yet unclear whether the parties to be licensed under this law would be required to join the NPF.
The NPF is composed of seven political parties:
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Arab Socialist Ba'th Party (Article 8 of the Syrian constitution states that "the Arab Socialist Ba'th Party leads the state and society"),
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Arab Socialist Union
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Democratic Arab Union
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Party of Arab Socialists
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Syrian Social Nationalist Party
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Syrian Communist Party (
Yusuf Faisal group)
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Syrian Communist Party (
Khalid Bakdash group)
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Party of Socialist Unionists
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Democratic Socialist Unity Party