National Democratic Front (Yemen)

1970s–80s opposition alliance in North Yemen

Not to be confused with National Liberation Front (South Yemen).

National Democratic Front

الجبهة الوطنية الديمقراطية

General Secretary| Nashwan Nusayr an-Nusayri
Founded| 1976 (1976)
Ideology| Arab nationalism
Democratic socialism
Colours|  Light blue
House of Representatives|

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* Politics of Yemen
* Political parties
* Elections

National Democratic Front

Leaders| Yahya Shami
Sultan Ahmad Umar

Dates of operation| 1976-1982
Group(s)|

* Revolutionary Democratic Party of Yemen
* Organisation of Yemeni Revolutionary Resistors
* Popular Vanguard
* Labour Party
* Popular Democratic Union

Ideology| Socialism
Marxism–Leninism
Ba'athism
Allies|  South Yemen
Libya
Opponents|  North Yemen
Islamic Front
Battles and wars| NDF Rebellion

The National Democratic Front (Arabic: الجبهة الوطنية الديمقراطية) was founded as an umbrella of various opposition movements in North Yemen on February 2, 1976 in Sana'a. The five founding organisations of NDF were the Revolutionary Democratic Party of Yemen, Organisation of Yemeni Revolutionary Resistors, the Labour Party, the Popular Vanguard and the Popular Democratic Union.[1]

On March 5, 1979, the five founding parties of the NDF merged to form the Yemeni Popular Unity Party. Four days later, the Popular Unity Party merged into the Yemeni Socialist Party (but retaining the name 'Popular Unity Party' for activities in North Yemen).[2] The NDF did however continue to exist as a separate structure. It was joined by Qassam Salam's Ba'ath Party, and the Democratic Septembrist Organization. In 1978 the Ba'ath Party left the front and in 1979 the June 13 Front of Popular Forces joined it.[1]

## As the National Democratic Front Party

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The remnants of the party became known as the  National Democratic Front Party (Arabic: حزب الجبهة الوطنية الديمقراطية, Ḥizb al-Jabhat al-Wataniyah ad-Dīmuqrātiyah), which still operates and which participated among others in the 2003 Yemeni parliamentary election, where it failed to win a seat and got 0.12% of the vote.[3]

During the Yemeni Revolution, it issued a statement demanding elections to be held as planned on April 27, stressing its importance for political pluralism and the peaceful transfer of power.[4] In September 2014, it signed a statement expressing support for the Houthi takeover in Yemen, which also underlines that this takeover would represent the people of Yemen and not only the Houthis.[5]

While two other center-left parties that initially supported the Houthis, Al-Ahrar Organization and the Yemeni Labour Party, later got into conflict with them, the National Democratic Front Party continued to support the Houthis over the years. On 19 April 2019, the new general secretary Nashwan Nusayr an-Nusayri called on the parties, forces and political organizations that oppose the "aggression", to continue their efforts and strengthen the unity of the "home front". Particularly, he criticized the "occupation" of the eastern governorates and Soqotra by "aggressor countries". On the other hand, he also stated support for a national dialogue to reach a "honorable and just" peace.[6]

## See also

[edit]

* List of political parties in Yemen

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b MERIP Reports, No. 130, (February 1985).
2. ^ al-Hajj, Bassam (16 September 2004). "اليسار في اليمن.. (الاشتراكي نموذجاً). الحزب الاشتراكي من نقد التجربة إلى ابداع المستقبل". Ahewar. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
3. ^ "نتائج الانتخابات البرلمانية 2003م". المركز الوطني للمعلومات (National Information Center). Retrieved 16 August 2022.
4. ^ "حزب الجبهة الوطنية يؤيد إجراء الانتخابات في 27 ابريل". Alganob. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
5. ^ "أحزاب المعارضة اليمنية تُعلن مساندتها للثورة الشعبية وترد على بيان مجلس الأمن بأن الثورة تمثل كل الشعب اليمني وليست مُختزلة بمكون أنصارالله"نص البيان"". Yemeni Press. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
6. ^ Staff member (19 April 2019). "الجبهة الوطنية تقر تكليف نشوان النصيري بأعمال الأمين العام". Al-Methaq. Retrieved 31 March 2023.

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