Cairo - Egypt's ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) was created in July 1978 by former president Anwar Sadat under a semi- pluralist system.
After Sadat's assassination in 1981, his successor Hosny Mubarak took over the party leadership and presidency. Mubarak has since held no less than three-quarters of seats in parliament.
The NDP's ideology is vague, with flowing rhetoric on social justice and market reform, and non-committal positions.
In three decades under Mubarak, the party became infused with an opaque networks of business interests. Corrupt industrialists and companies frequently use it as a vehicle to get ahead.
Parliamentary seats on the NDP ticket play and important role in safeguarding personal business interests.
Helpers, hecklers and thugs are called upon when necessary to shout down a promising opposition candidate. Such elements are often recruited from within the poor social class, prepared to accept a small payment, shout out slogans or batter opponents. The role of the interior ministry and intelligence service in all of this is unclear.
The NDP is an obstacle to democracy. The party's internal committee for political parties, which is appointed by Mubarak himself, decides on the legality of other parties.
In the 20 years of this body's its existence, it has ensured the straightforward clearance of only two small opposition parties. A further 10 groupings had to turn to the courts to achieve this. None of the larger political groupings - for instance the Muslim Brotherhood - are among them.
The ruling party is a conglomerate of business people and thugs, as well as bureaucrats, employees of government officials and people with close ties to the security apparatus.
Despite its apparent undemocratic character, the NDP has been a member of Socialist International (SI) since 1989. But it was only until the latest massive anti-government protests, that Mubarak's party was expelled from the world club of Social Democrats.
Your Talkback on this Story