Yemenis inside and abroad are today celebrating the 42nd anniversary of the founding of the General People's Congress, which is considered the most prominent political party in Yemen.
The establishment of the General People's Congress was not announced in 1982 by chance. Rather, there were reasons which prompted the late President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who was elected in 1978, to consider the best way to address the differences between the political parties in Yemen.
At that time Political parties and movements were carrying out their activities secretly, as the Yemeni constitution then prohibited party pluralism and activities, but President Saleh decided to sponsor a comprehensive national dialogue that included representatives of various political parties and groups, and resulted in adapting the National Charter, which was considered the intellectual and political ideology of the General People’s Congress.
By announcing the establishment of the General People’s Congress the Late President was able to provide a platform that allows participation for all political forces in the country. It remained on power active and functional until recently.
Since its founding, the General People's Congress has maintained its position as a ruling political organization until the announcement of the establishment of Yemeni unity.
At that time May.22.1990 it became a partner in power, allowing other political forces to participate until the events of the so-called Arab Spring, which represented a great challenge to its leadership, formations, and popular bases that kept adhering to its principles despite the challenges that it faced and is facing until today.