Major party

A major party is a political party that holds substantial influence in a country's politics, standing in contrast to a minor party. It should not be confused with majority party.

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary:

Major party: a political party having electoral strength sufficient to permit it to win control of a government usually with comparative regularity and when defeated to constitute the principal opposition to the party in power.

— Merriam-Webster Dictionary online^[1]

Major parties hold a significant percentage of the vote in elections and claim higher membership than minor parties. Typically, major parties have the most donors, best-organized support networks and excellent funding for elections. Their candidates for political positions are closely watched since they have the highest chance of being elected to office because of the high membership, recognition and donations that these parties are able to generate.

Two major parties can lead to a two-party system. If there is only one major party, then it is a dominant-party system. In a multi-party system, a major party is one that occasionally controls the presidency or premiership and is the most influential party in a coalition government.

List of major parties

Country	Centre-left/Left-wing major party	Centre-right/Right-wing major party	Liberal/Centrist major party	Other major parties	Notes
Albania	Socialist Party of Albania	Democratic Party of Albania
Algeria	National Liberation Front	National Rally for Democracy
Andorra	Social Democratic Party	Democrats for Andorra	Liberal Party of Andorra
Angola	MPLA	UNITA
Antigua and Barbuda	Antigua Labour Party			United Progressive Party
Argentina	Citizen's Unity Party (Peronist) Progresistas (Anti-Peronist)	Federal Peronism (Right-wing Peronism) United for a New Alternative	Cambiemos (Coalition of Republican Proposal and Radical Civic Union)	Justicialist Party	The Justicialist Party has produced both leftist and rightist presidents; Néstor Kirchner (2003–2007) and Cristina Fernández (2007–2015) were leftist, while fellow Justicialist Carlos Menem (1989–1999) was seen as neoliberal.[2] Politics in Argentine is less divided between left and right and more divided in Peronism and Anti-Peronism, historically led by Justicialist Party and Radical Civic Union. Since the ascension of Kirchnerism, however, Peronism is more associated with left-wing nationalist politics critical to liberalism and neoliberalism and anti-peronism is associated with right-wing, neoliberal and liberal conservative politics
Armenia	Armenian Revolutionary Federation	Prosperous Armenia	Way Out Alliance	Republican Party of Armenia	Despite described itself as a right-wing and national conservative, Republican Party of Armenia is considered the "Party of Power"
Aruba	People's Electoral Movement	Aruban People's Party
Australia	Australian Labor Party	Coalition (Liberal / National / Liberal National Party of Queensland)
Austria	Social Democratic Party of Austria	Austrian People's Party	NEOS - The New Austria	Freedom Party of Austria
Azerbaijan		New Azerbaijan Party
The Bahamas	Progressive Liberal Party	Free National Movement
Bangladesh	Bangladesh Awami League	Bangladesh Nationalist Party	Jatiya Party
Barbados	Barbados Labour Party			Democratic Labour Party	Both parties are centre-left. However, DLP is more centrist than BLP
Belarus				Belaya Rus
Belgium (Dutch-speaking)	Different Socialist Party	New Flemish Alliance	Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats	Christian Democratic and Flemish
Belgium (French-speaking)	Socialist Party	Citizens Movement for Change(MCC)	Reformist Movement	Humanist Democratic Centre	Despite MR being a liberal party and CDH a Christian Democratic, MR is considered more right-wing than CDH. MCC is part of Reformist Movement
Belgium (German-speaking)	Socialist Party	Christian Social Party	Party for Freedom and Progress	ProDG
Belize	People's United Party	United Democratic Party
Benin	Union Makes the Nation	Cowry Forces for an Emerging Benin
Bolivia	Movement for Socialism	National Unity Front		Christian Democratic Party
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Alliance of Independent Social Democrats	Party of Democratic Action			Bosnia and Herzegovina is a sovereign state divided in 2 entities along ethnic lines, the serbian-majority Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina which is Bosnian-majority with a significant Croat minority. Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina may also elect his own parliamentaries to Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Federation Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosnian entity)	Social Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina	Party of Democratic Action	Democratic Front	Union for a Better Future of BiH
Republika Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina)	Alliance of Independent Social Democrats	Serb Democratic Party	Party of Democratic Progress	Democratic People's Alliance
Bosnia and Herzegovina (Croatian minority)		Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina	Croatian Peasant Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina	Croatian Democratic Union 1990	Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina is a Dominant party between ethinc Croats.
Botswana	Botswana National Front	Botswana Democratic Party
Brazil	Workers' Party	To unite Brazil (coalition betwenn Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB) and Democrats)		Brazilian Democratic Movement Party	Despite PSDB being a centre to centre-left party, the party is in a alliance with Democrats since 1994 in a national level and in the majority of states. Democrats and its predecessor, Liberal Front Party were the main party of the Brazilian right-wing since his inception, in 1985, until 2011.
Bulgaria	Bulgarian Socialist Party	Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria	Movement for Rights and Freedoms	United Patriots	Union of Democratic Forces was a major party from 1990 to 2005.
Burkina Faso	People's Movement for Progress	Union for Progress and Reform		Congress for Democracy and Progress
Burundi		National Council for the Defense of Democracy – Forces for the Defense of Democracy	Independents of Hope
Cambodia	Cambodian People's Party	FUNCINPEC	Sam Rainsy Party
Cameroon	Social Democratic Front		Cameroon People's Democratic Movement
Canada	New Democratic Party	Conservative Party of Canada	Liberal Party of Canada	Bloc Québécois	Canadian politics are historically dominated by Liberals, which led Canadian federal government for 87 years, while Conservatives were in government in the another 64; Liberal Party is divided between Classical and Social Liberals, the former prioritize free market and free trade and the lasts prioritize civil rights and welfare
Cape Verde	African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde	Movement for Democracy
Cayman Islands	People's Progressive Movement	United Democratic Party
Central Africa	Central African Democratic Rally	National Union for Democracy and Progress		Union for Central African Renewal
Chad			Patriotic Salvation Movement
Chile	Socialist Party of Chile (Current leader of New Majority)	Chile Vamos (Coalition of National Renewal and Independent Democratic Union)	Amplitude Evópoli	Christian Democratic Party	The Christian Democratic party was part of New Majority from 1990 to 2017, however, they broke with the New Majority in May 2017 and they became independent from any bloc. Amplitude is only represented in regional parliaments and Evópoli is a minor component of Chile Vamos
China	Communist Party of China
Colombia	Colombian Liberal Party	Democratic Center	Social Party of National Unity Radical Change	Colombian Conservative Party	Conservative Party was the major right-wing party from its foundation in 1849 to 2018.
Comoros				Union for the Development of the Comoros, Juwa Party
Costa Rica	Citizens' Action Party (PAC)	National Restoration Party	National Liberation Party (PLN)	Social Christian Unity Party
Croatia	Social Democratic Party of Croatia	Croatian Democratic Union	Bridge of Independent Lists
Cuba	Communist Party of Cuba
Curaçao	Partido MAN	Movement for the Future of Curaçao	Party for the Restructured Antilles
Czech Republic	Czech Pirate Party	Civic Democratic Party	ANO 2011	Freedom and Direct Democracy	ODS and ČSSD are traditionally two major parties but both suffered heavy losses in 2010s. ODS managed to return to the position of a major party.
Cyprus	Progressive Party of Working People	Democratic Rally	Democratic Party	Movement for Social Democracy
Democratic Republic of the Congo	People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy	Movement for the Liberation of the Congo	Union for Democracy and Social Progress
Denmark	Social Democrats	Danish People's Party	Venstre
Djibouti	People's Rally for Progress	Movement for Democratic Renewal and Development
Dominica	Dominica Labour Party			United Workers' Party
East Timor	Fretilin	Peoples' Liberation Party	Democratic Party	National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction
Ecuador	PAIS Alliance	CREO	SUMA Momevent	Partido Social Cristiano	SUMA Movement is associated with CREO. PSC – and its antecessors – was the major party from independence since 2006.
Egypt		Free Egyptians Party		Nation's Future Party
El Salvador	Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front	Nationalist Republican Alliance		Unity Movement
Equatorial Guinea				Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea	People's Front for Democracy and Justice
Estonia	Social Democratic Party	Pro Patria and Res Publica Union	Estonian Reform Party	Estonian Centre Party
Ethiopia	Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front
European Union	Party of European Socialists	European People's Party	Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party	Alliance of Conservatives and Reformists in Europe
Faroe Islands	Social Democratic Party	People's Party	Union Party	Republic	Social Democratic Party and Union Party defend Faroese unionism with Denmark, whether People's Party and Republic support independence from Denmark from a Conservative and left-wing populist ideology, respectively
Fiji	National Federation Party	Social Democratic Liberal Party	FijiFirst
Finland	Social Democratic Party of Finland	National Coalition Party	Centre Party	Finns Party
France	Socialist Party	The Republicans	En Marche!-MoDem Alliance	National Front
Gabon		Gabonese Democratic Party
Gambia	United Democratic Party	Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction
Georgia	Georgian Dream	United National Movement	Movement for Liberty - European Georgia
Germany	Social Democratic Party of Germany	CDU/CSU (Union of Christian Democratic Union and Christian Social Union)	Free Democratic Party	Alternative for Germany
Ghana	National Democratic Congress	New Patriotic Party
Gibraltar	Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party	Gibraltar Social Democrats	Liberal Party of Gibraltar
Greece	Coalition of the Radical Left (Syriza)	New Democracy	Movement for Change (Greece)	Golden Dawn	Until the 2012 legislative election, PASOK was the major party of the centre-left. PASOK eventually merged in the centre-left Democratic Alignment which merged with others social-democrats and social liberals into the Movement for Change.
Grenada	National Democratic Congress	New National Party
Guatemala	National Unity of Hope	National Convergence Front	Vision with Values	Todos	Many former major parties were dissolved by Guatemalan Electoral Supreme Court by corruption scandals;Patriotic Party was dissolved in 2017 and LIDER in 2016; Currently, National Convergence Front's dissolution is in a legal process in supreme court.
Guinea	Guinean People's Assembly	Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea
Guinea-Bissau	African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde			Party for Social Renewal
Guyana	People's Progressive Party			A Partnership for National Unity
Haiti	Fanmi Lavalas	Haitian Tèt Kale Party	Struggling People's Organization	Truth
Hong Kong	Pan-democracy camp Democratic Party is the largest party.	Pro-Beijing camp DAB is the largest party.
Hungary	Hungarian Socialist Party	Fidesz–KDNP Alliance	Democratic Coalition	Jobbik	Although Fidesz and KDNP are different entities, since 2005 they form an alliance that lasts until today. KDNP is considered a satellite of Fidesz, to the point that the current shared cabinet betwenn Fidesz and KDNP is not considered a "coalition government" even by members of the both parties.
Iceland	Social Democratic Alliance	Independence Party	Progressive Party	Left-Green Movement
India	United Progressive Alliance led by Indian National Congress	National Democratic Alliance led by Bharatiya Janata Party
Indonesia	Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle	Golkar Party	Democratic Party	Gerindra Party
Ireland	Sinn Féin	Fine Gael	Fianna Fáil	Labour Party	Fianna Fáil received the largest share of the vote in Ireland from 1932 to 2011, when it was returned in third place with just 17.4% of the vote. The Labour Party was for most of Ireland's existence the largest centre-left party in Ireland. The government it led with Fine Gael was unpopular, and the party's votes went from 19.4% to 6.6%. The President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, is still a member.
Israel	Zionist Union led by Israel Labor Party	Likud	Yesh Atid Kulanu	Joint List
Iran	Reformists	Principlists
Italy	Democratic Party	Lega	Forza Italia	Five Star Movement Brothers of Italy	Until 1992 the major party was Christian Democracy, which had been in government for five decades; the second party was the Italian Communist Party. Forza Italia, Brothers of Italy and Lega até members of centre-right coalition. Forza Italia was the main right-Wing party until mid-2010s, but lost many conservative members between 2013 and 2018 elections and became a smaller and more liberal party
Ivory Coast	Ivorian Popular Front	Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire – African Democratic Rally	Rally of the Republicans	Union for Democracy and Peace in Côte d'Ivoire
Japan	Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan	Liberal Democratic Party	Democratic Party for the People	Komeito
Jamaica	People's National Party	Jamaica Labour Party
Kazakhstan				Nur Otan
Kenya	Orange Democratic Movement	The National Alliance
Kyrgyzstan	Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan	Respublika–Ata Zhurt	Bir Bol Onuguu–Progress	Kyrgyzstan Party Ata Meken Socialist Party
Kosovo	Vetëvendosje	Democratic League of Kosovo	Alliance for the Future of Kosovo	Democratic Party of Kosovo
Laos	Lao People's Revolutionary Party
Latvia	Social Democratic Party "Harmony"	New Conservative Party	Movement For!	National Alliance Union of Greens and Farmers
Lesotho	Democratic Congress	All Basotho Convention
Liberia		Congress for Democratic Change	Unity Party
Liechtenstein	Free List	Progressive Citizens' Party	Patriotic Union	The Independents
Lithuania	Lithuanian Social Democratic Party	Homeland Union	Liberal Movement	Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union
Luxembourg	Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party	Christian Social People's Party	Democratic Party
Macedonia	Social Democratic Union of Macedonia	VMRO-DPMNE
Malaysia	Pakatan Rakyat	Barisan Nasional
Malawi	United Democratic Front	Malawi Congress Party	Democratic Progressive Party	Peoples Party
Maldives		Progressive Party of Maldives	Maldivian Democratic Party
Mali	Rally for Mali
Malta	Labour Party	Nationalist Party	Democratic Party
Mexico	Juntos Haremos Historia coalition led by National Regeneration Movement	National Action Party	Institutional Revolutionary Party	Social Encounter Party (PES)	PRI was founded in 1929 as a left-of-centre party and stayed in the power from his inception until 2000. However, despite being a member of Socialist International, its left-wing character is questionable. The party is labeled as neoliberal and catch-all. PES is part of Juntos Haremos Historia, but is a conservative, right-wing party with a evangelical fundamentalist voter base which contrasts with the other two leftist parties of coalition.
Monaco		Rally & Issues	Union Monégasque
Moldova	Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova	Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova	Liberal Party of Moldova	Democratic Party of Moldova
Mongolia	Mongolian People's Party	Democratic Party
Montenegro	Democratic Party of Socialists	Democratic Front
Mozambique	FRELIMO	RENAMO
Morocco	Socialist Union of Popular Forces	Justice and Development Party	National Rally of Independents Popular Movement	Istiqlal Party Authenticity and Modernity Party
Myanmar	National League for Democracy	Union Solidarity and Development Party			The military of Myanmar appoints 25% of the seats in the Assembly of the Union, the legislature in Myanmar.
Nagorno Karabakh	Armenian Revolutionary Federation	Free Motherland		Democratic Party of Artsakh
Namibia	SWAPO	Popular Democratic Movement
Nepal	Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist)			Nepali Congress Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)
Netherlands	Socialist Party	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Democrats 66	Christian Democratic Appeal Party for Freedom	Labour Party was the major left-wing party since his inception until 2017 Dutch election
New Zealand	Labour Party	National Party		New Zealand Green Party New Zealand First
Nicaragua	Sandinista National Liberation Front	Constitutionalist Liberal Party	Independent Liberal Party
Niger	Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism	National Movement for the Development of Society		Nigerien Democratic Movement for an African Federation
Nigeria	All Progressives Congress	People's Democratic Party
Northern Cyprus	Republican Turkish Party	National Unity Party	People's Party
Norway	Labour Party	Conservative Party Progress Party	Venstre	Christian People's Party Centre Party	Conservatives and Progress Party are in coalition since 2013
Pakistan	Pakistan People's Party	Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz)	Muttahida Qaumi Movement	Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
Papua New Guinea	People's National Congress	National Alliance Party
Paraguay	Frente Guasú	Colorado Party	Authentic Radical Liberal Party
Peru	Broad Front	Popular Force	Peruvians for Change
Philippines	Philippine Democratic Party-People's Power	Nationalist People's Coalition	Liberal Party
Puerto Rico	Popular Democratic Party	New Progressive Party			Puerto Rico is the only territory within the jurisdiction of USA with different major parties from the rest of the USA.
Poland	Democratic Left Alliance	Law and Justice	Modern	Civic Platform	Democratic Left Alliance is currently only represented in European parliament.
Portugal	Socialist Party	PPD/PSD – Social Democratic Party		Unitary Democratic Coalition Left Bloc CDS – People's Party	PSD and CDS rarely governed Portugal without mutual support; Both parties are considered natural allies with similar ideologies; PSD, however, PSD, however, is much larger and more liberal than the socially conservative CDS
Republic of China (Taiwan)	Democratic Progressive Party	Kuomintang (Nationalist Party of China)	New Power Party	People First Party
Republic of the Congo	Congolese Party of Labour			Pan-African Union for Social Democracy
Romania	Social Democratic Party	National Liberal Party	Alliance of Liberals and Democrats	Save Romania Union Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania
Russia	Communist Party of Russia	United Russia	Civic Platform	A Just Russia Liberal Democratic Party of Russia
Rwanda	Social Democratic Party	Rwandan Patriotic Front	Liberal Party
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic	Polisario Front
Saint Lucia	Saint Lucia Labour Party	United Workers Party
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	Unity Labour Party	New Democratic Party
San Marino	United Left	Sammarinese Christian Democratic Party	RETE Movement	Future Republic
São Tomé and Príncipe	Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe/Social Democratic Party	Independent Democratic Action
Serbia	Socialist Party of Serbia	Serbian Progressive Party	Democratic Party (Serbia)	Serbian Radical Party
Seychelles	People's Party	Seychelles National Party
Senegal		Senegalese Democratic Party	Alliance for the Republic
Sierra Leone	All People's Congress		Sierra Leone People's Party
Singapore	Workers' Party of Singapore	People's Action Party
Slovakia	Direction – Social Democracy	Ordinary People	Freedom and Solidarity	Kotleba – People's Party Our Slovakia	Movement for a Democratic Slovakia dominated political scene in 1990s until it was marginalized. Slovak Democratic and Christian Union was major right-wing party from 2000 to 2012.
Slovenia	Social Democrats	Slovenian Democratic Party	List of Marjan Šarec Modern Centre Party	The Left	Liberal Democracy of Slovenia was a major party from 1990 to 2008.
Somaliland	For Justice and Development		Peace, Unity, and Development Party
South Africa	African National Congress	Democratic Alliance
South Korea	Minjoo Party of Korea (Democratic Party)	Free Korea Party	Bareunmirae (Right's Future Party)
South Ossetia	Socialist Party "Unity of the People"	United Ossetia			Unity Party and Communist Party of South Ossetia were major parties before 2014 election
South Sudan				Sudan People's Liberation Movement
Spain	Spanish Socialist Workers' Party	People's Party	Citizens	Podemos	Many of Autonomous communities of Spain have their own major parties, which may differ of the national major parties
Catalonia (Spain)	Republican Left of Catalonia	Catalan Democratic Party	Citizens	Socialist Party of Catalonia
Basque Country (Spain)	EH Bildu	Basque Nationalist Party
Canary Islands (Spain)	Socialist Party of the Canaries	Canarian Coalition	New Canaries	People's Party Podemos
Template:Country data Sri-Lanka	United People's Freedom Alliance	United National Party		Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna & Tamil National Alliance
State of Palestine	Palestine Liberation Organization Fatah is the largest party.	Hamas
Sudan		National Congress
Suriname	National Democratic Party	Progressive Reform Party
Sweden	Swedish Social Democratic Labour Party	Moderate Party	Centre Party Liberals	Sweden Democrats	Moderate Party lead the Centre-right Alliance, along with the Centre Party, the Liberals and the Christian Democratic Coalition
Switzerland	Social Democratic Party of Switzerland	Swiss People's Party	FDP.The Liberals	Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland	The magic formula system means that these parties are guaranteed representation in the Swiss Federal Council
Tajikistan			People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan
Tanzania	Chama Cha Mapinduzi	Chadema
Thailand			Democrat Party	Pheu Thai Party
Togo	Save Togo Collective			Union for the Republic
Transnistria		Renewal
Trinidad and Tobago	United National Congress	People's National Movement
Tunisia	Nidaa Tounes	Ennahda Movement
Turkey	Republican People's Party	Justice and Development Party
Ukraine	Opposition Bloc	Petro Poroshenko Bloc "Solidarity"	People's Front
United Kingdom[3]	Labour Party	Conservative Party	Liberal Democrats	United Kingdom Independence Party (major party in European Parliament) Scottish National Party (major party in Scotland, third party in the House of Commons) Plaid Cymru (major party in Wales)	From the 17th through mid-19th century, the Whigs and the Tories were the major parties. From 1859 to 1922, Liberal Party and Conservative Party were the major parties. Liberal Party is succeeded by the Liberal Democrats. Nationalist movements have major party status within the Home Nations of the UK.[3]
North Korea	Workers' Party of Korea
United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)[3]	Sinn Féin (republican)	Democratic Unionist Party (unionist)	Alliance Party (non-sectarian)	Social Democratic and Labour Party (republican) Ulster Unionist Party (unionist)	Despite being part of the UK, the main parties in Northern Ireland differ from those in Great Britain. Sinn Féin does not take its seats in the House of Commons.
Uganda	Uganda People's Congress	National Resistance Movement	Democratic Party	Forum for Democratic Change
United States	Democratic Party	Republican Party			At various times during the 18th and 19th centuries, the Federalist Party, Democratic-Republican Party, National Republican Party, and Whig Party were all major.
Uruguay	Broad Front	National Party	Colorado Party
Uzbekistan	Justice Social Democratic Party	Uzbekistan National Revival Democratic Party	Uzbekistan Liberal Democratic Party	People's Democratic Party of Uzbekistan
Venezuela	Great Patriotic Pole led by United Socialist Party of Venezuela			Democratic Unity Roundtable
Vietnam	Communist Party of Vietnam
Yemen		Al-Islah (Yemeni Congregation For Reform)		General People's Congress
Zambia	Patriotic Front	United Party for National Development
Zimbabwe	Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front			Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai

See also

• Minor party

References