A dominant-party system is a party system where only one political party can realistically become the government, by itself or in a coalition government, because all other parties are too weak.

Dominant-party systems are not to be confused with single-party systems, when 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.

Examples of dominant-party systems include National Democratic Party in Egypt, the PRI in Mexico from the 1920s until 2000, the PAP in Singapore, the Democratic Party in the southern United States from about 1880 until the 1960s, and the Liberal Democratic Party in Japan from the 1950s until the present.

Dominant-party systems can occur temporarily. This can often occur when a two-party system is the norm, but one of the two parties sees a massive drop in support, often due to scandal or similar massive upset. An example of this is, arguably, the United Kingdom between 1979 and 1997 (18 years) where the Conservative party won all four elections in that period. Previously, in the post-war period, the government had rotated from Labour Party to Conservative Party five times.

Contemporary Canada would also qualify as a dominant-party system, with the Liberal Party being quite dominant since 1896 ruling almost three quarters of the time in that period, and continuously since 1993. In the party's history, Edward Blake is the only leader of the Liberal Party ever to not have been Prime Minister of Canada at some time. For some of the period, including today, the Liberals have ruled in a minority government.

Though the United States as a whole is characterized by a competitive two-party system, some individual states may qualify as a dominant-party system.

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, 1998: Blaise Compaoré (CDP) 87.5%
• 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) 75.2%
• 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) 67.3%
• 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 from 1 January 1969 to 31 August 1992 and since 15 October 1997
• Sole legal party, 1970-1990
• Presidential election, 2002: Denis Sassou-Nguesso (PCT) 89.4%
• Parliamentary election, 2002: PCT 52 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, 1999: Ismail Omar Guelleh (RPP) 73.9%
• Parliamentary election, 2003: RPP in coalition, 62.7% 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 referendum, 1999: Hosni Mubarak (NDP) 93.8%
• 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, 2000: EPRDF 481 of 527 seats

Gabon

• Gabonese Democratic Party
• Parti démocratique gabonais (PDG)
• Led by President Omar Bongo, in office since 28 November 1967
• In power, under various names, since independence, 17 August 1960
• Sole legal party, 1968-1991
• Presidential election, 1998: Omar Bongo (PDG) 66.9%
• 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

Malawi

• United Democratic Front (UDF)
• Led by President Bingu wa Mutharika, in office since 24 May 2004
• In power since 21 May 1994
• Presidential election, 2004: Bingu wa Mutharika (UDF) 35.9%
• Parliamentary election, 2004: UDF 49 of 194 seats (Malawi Congress Party, 60 of 194 seats)

Mauritania

• Democratic and Social Republican Party
• Parti républicain démocratique et social (PRDS)
• Led by President Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya, in office since 12 December 1984
• In power since its formation in 1992
• Presidential election, 2003: Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya (PRDS) 66.7%
• Parliamentary election, 2001: PRDS 51.0% and 64 of 81 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 Sam Nujoma, in office since 21 March 1990
• President-elect Hifikepunye Pohamba, takes office on 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) 95.0%
• 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 Benjamin William Mkapa, in office since 23 November 1995
• In power, under various names, since independence, 9 December 1961
• Sole legal party, 1975-1992 (unofficially from independence in 1961)
• Presidential election, 2000: Benjamin William Mkapa (CCM) 71.7%
• Parliamentary election, 2000: CCM 244 of 269 seats

Togo

• Rally of the Togolese People
• Rassemblement du Peuple togolais (RPT)
• Led by President Gnassingbé Eyadéma, in office since 14 April 1967
• In power since its formation in 1980
• Sole legal party, 1980-1992
• Presidential election, 2003: Gnassingbé Eyadéma (RPT) 57.8%
• 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%
• Parliamentary election, 2000: ZANU-PF 48.6% and 82 of 150 seats

Americas

Canada

• Liberal Party of Canada (LPC)
• Parti libéral du Canada (PLC)
• Led by Prime Minister Paul Martin, in office since 12 December 2003
• In power 1873-1878, 1896-1911, 1921-1926, 1926-1930, 1935-1957, 1963-1979, 1980-1984, 1993-present (in government for 72% of the modern era - since 1896)
• Parliamentary election, 2004: LPC 36.7% and 135 of 308 seats

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 15 August 1948
• Presidential election, 2003: Nicanor Duarte (ANR-PC) 38.3%
• Parliamentary election, 2003: ANR-PC 35.3% and 37 of 80 seats

Asia

Cambodia (KPK), East Timor (FRETILIN), Japan (LDP), Kazakhstan (OTAN), Malaysia (UMNO), Palestinian Authority (PLO), Samoa (HRPP), Singapore (PAP), Syria (Ba'ath), Tajikistan (PDPT), Uzbekistan (FID), Yemen (GPC)

Europe

Andorra (PLA), Armenia (RPA), Azerbaijan (YAP), Republic of Georgia (NM-D), Romania (PSD)

See also

• List of democracy and elections-related topics