View source for Politics of Yemen

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{{Politics of Yemen}}
The politics of [[Yemen]] are in an uncertain state due to the [[Houthi takeover in Yemen|Houthi takeover]]. An armed group known as the [[Houthi movement|Houthis]] or Ansar Allah seized control of the Northern Yemeni government and announced it would dissolve [[House of Representatives (Yemen)|parliament]], as well as install a "presidential council", "transitional national council", and "supreme revolutionary council" to govern the country for an interim period.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/02/06/Yemen-s-Houthi-to-issue-constitutional-decree.html|agency=Al Arabiya|title=Houthis take charge in Yemen|date=6 February 2015|access-date=6 February 2015}}</ref> However, the deposed president, [[Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi]], has declared he is still in office and is working to establish a rival government in [[Aden]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.aawsat.net/2015/02/article55341755/hadi-to-form-new-government-declare-aden-as-capital-of-yemen-sources|agency=Asharq al-Awsat|title=Hadi to form new government, declare Aden as the capital of Yemen: sources|first=Arafat|last=Madabish|date=23 February 2015|access-date=25 February 2015}}</ref>

Prior to the coup, Yemen's politics nominally took place in a framework of a [[Semi-presidential system|semi-presidential]] [[Representative democracy|representative democratic]] [[republic]]. The [[President of Yemen]], who is elected by popular vote from at least two candidates endorsed by Parliament, is the [[head of state]]; while the [[Prime Minister of Yemen]], who is appointed by the President, is the [[head of government]].<ref>Article 74 of the Constitution of the Republic of Yemen: "The House of Representatives has the right to withdraw confidence from the Government. Withdrawal of confidence may be requested only after interpellating the Prime Minister or his representative. A request for withdrawing confidence has to be signed by a third of the members of the House and the House may not decide on this request before the elapsing of at least seven days after its submission. Withdrawal of confidence in the Government has to be decided by the majority of members of the House."</ref><ref>Article 105 of the Constitution of the Republic of Yemen: "The Prime Minister and ministers are collectively responsible before the Presidential Council and the House of Representatives for the work of the Government."</ref> Although it is notionally a [[multi-party system]], in reality, it is completely [[Dominant-party system|dominated by one party]], the [[General People's Congress (Yemen)|General People's Congress]], and had been since unification. [[Executive power]] is exercised by the President and the Government. [[Legislative power]] is vested in both the [[Government]] and the [[House of Representatives]]. The [[Judiciary]] is theoretically independent, but in reality, it is prone to interference from the executive branch.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Inc|first=IBP|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eEGbBQAAQBAJ&q=Yemen+The+Judiciary+was+theoretically+independent%2C+but+in+reality+it+was+prone+to+interference+from+the+executive+branch&pg=PA185|title=Yemen Ecology, Nature Protection Laws and Regulations Handbook Volume 1 Strategic Information and Basic Laws|date=2013-08-01|publisher=Lulu.com|isbn=978-1-4330-7532-2|language=en}}</ref>

Yemen is a republic with a [[bicameralism|bicameral]] legislature.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Yemen - Places in the News {{!}} Library of Congress|url=https://www.loc.gov/today/placesinthenews/archive/2010arch/20100104_yemen.html|access-date=2020-07-30|website=www.loc.gov}}</ref> Under the [[Constitution of Yemen|constitution]], an elected president, an elected 301-seat House of Representatives, and an appointed 111-member Shura Council share power.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Yemen - Places in the News {{!}} Library of Congress|url=https://www.loc.gov/today/placesinthenews/archive/2011arch/20110930_yemen.html|access-date=2020-07-29|website=www.loc.gov}}</ref>  The presidential term of office is 7 years, and the parliamentary term of elected office is 6 years. Suffrage is universal over 18.

==Political background==
{{Unreferenced|section|date=August 2023}}
For hundreds of years, Yemen was ruled by [[Imams of Yemen|imams]] who had absolute power over the political process in the country. The [[imams of Yemen]] and later the Kings of Yemen were religiously consecrated leaders belonging to the [[Zaidiyyah]] branch of [[Shia Islam]]. They established a blend of religious and secular rule in parts of [[Yemen]] from 897. Their imamate endured under varying circumstances until the [[History of Yemen|republican revolution]] in 1962. Zaidiyyah theology differed from [[Ismailis]] or [[Twelver Shi'ites]] by stressing the presence of an active and visible imam as leader. This came to an end with the assassination of Imam Yehia. His son, Imam Ahmad succeeded him but the political situation deteriorated with the beginning of the [[North Yemen Civil War]] in 1962 with the overthrow of Imam Badr and the setting of a new, Republican regime.

While in the North, during the civil war, the pro-monarch and pro-republican forces fought for power, the South of Yemen was under British control. During the 1960s, the British sought to incorporate all of the [[Aden Protectorate]] territories into the Federation. On 18 January 1963, the Colony of Aden was incorporated against the wishes of much of the city's populace as the State of Aden, and the Federation was renamed the [[Federation of South Arabia]].  Several more states subsequently joined the Federation and the remaining states that declined to join, mainly in Hadhramaut, formed the [[Protectorate of South Arabia]]. In 1963 fighting between Egyptian forces and British-led [[Saudi Arabia|Saudi]]-financed [[guerrilla warfare|guerrilla]]s in the [[Yemen Arab Republic]] spread to South Arabia with the formation of the [[National Liberation Front (Yemen)|National Liberation Front]] (NLF), who hoped to force the British out of South Arabia.  Hostilities started with a grenade attack by the NLF against the British High Commissioner on 10 December 1963, killing one person and injuring fifty, and a [[state of emergency]] was declared, becoming known as the [[Aden Emergency]]. In 1964, the new British government under [[Harold Wilson]] announced their intention to hand over power to the Federation of South Arabia in 1968, but that the British military would remain. In 1964, there were around 280 guerrilla attacks, and over 500 in 1965.  In 1966  the British Government announced that all British forces would be withdrawn at independence.  In response, the security situation deteriorated with the creation of the [[socialism|socialist]] [[Front for the Liberation of Occupied South Yemen]] (FLOSY) which started to attack the NLF in a bid for power, as well as attacking the British. The British were defeated and driven from Aden by the end of November 1967, earlier than had been planned by British Prime Minister [[Harold Wilson]] and without an agreement on the succeeding governance. Their enemies, the NLF, managed to seize power, with Aden itself under NLF control. The [[Royal Marines]], who had been the first British troops to occupy Aden in 1839, were the last to leave.  The Federation of South Arabia collapsed and Southern Yemen became independent as the [[People's Republic of South Yemen]].

Following this Yemen suffered from a highly fractured political landscape, which is the legacy of the regime of President Ali Abd Allah Saleh, who came to power in 1978 and formally resigned his office in February 2012.

===Reunification===
The [[Republic of Yemen]] (ROY) was declared on 22 May 1990 with Saleh becoming president and al-Baidh Vice President.  For the first time in centuries, much of [[Greater Yemen]] was politically united. A 30-month transitional period for completing the [[Yemenite reunification|unification of the two political and economic systems]] was set. A presidential council was jointly elected by the 26-member YAR advisory council and the 17-member PDRY presidium. The presidential council appointed a Prime Minister, who formed a Cabinet. There was also a 301-seat provisional unified [[Assembly of Representatives of Yemen|parliament]], consisting of 159 members from the north, 111 members from the south, and 31 independent members appointed by the chairman of the council.

A unity constitution was agreed upon in May 1990 and ratified by the populace in May 1991. It affirmed Yemen's commitment to free elections, a multiparty political system, the right to own private property, equality under the law, and respect for basic human rights. Parliamentary elections were held on 27 April 1993. International groups assisted in the organization of the elections and observed actual balloting. The resulting Parliament included 143 GPC, 69 YSP, 63 Islaah (Yemeni grouping for reform, a party composed of various tribal and religious groups), six Baathis, three Nasserists, two Al Haq, and 15 independents. The head of Islaah, Paramount [[Abdullah ibn Husayn al-Ahmar|Hashid Sheik Abdallah Bin Husayn Al-Ahmar]], was the speaker of Parliament.

From late 1991 through early 1992, deteriorating economic conditions led to significant domestic unrest, including several riots. Legislative elections were nonetheless held in early 1993, and in May the two former ruling parties, the GPC and the YSP merged to create a single political party with an overall majority in the new [[House of Representatives of Yemen|House of Representatives]]. In August Vice President al Baydh exiled himself voluntarily to [[Aden]], and the country's general security situation deteriorated as political rivals settled scores and tribal elements took advantage of the widespread unrest. In January 1994, representatives of the main political parties signed a document of pledge and accord in [[Amman]], [[Jordan]], that was designed to resolve the ongoing crisis. Despite this, clashes intensified until [[civil war]] broke out in early May 1994.

=== Yemeni uprising ===
{{main article|Yemeni revolution}}
[[File:Yemen protest2.jpg|thumb|Protesters in Sana'a on 3 February.]]
The [[2011 Yemeni protests]] followed the initial stages of the [[Arab Spring]] and began simultaneously with the [[2011 Egyptian revolution|Egyptian Revolution]]. The protests were initially against unemployment, economic conditions, and corruption, as well as against the government's proposals to modify the [[constitution of Yemen]]. The protestors' demands then escalated to calls for President [[Ali Abdullah Saleh]] to resign.

The situation however quickly deteriorated into a widescale [[2011 Yemeni uprising|uprising]], with various insurgency campaigns consolidating into armed struggles, both between the armed opposition and terror groups vs. the government and among themselves. Eventually, a Saudi-brokered agreement on Saleh's resignation and [[Yemeni presidential election, 2012|2012 Presidential election]] saw the installation of [[Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi]] as an interim President. Hadi has been presiding over political reform and national reconciliation and was supposed to serve only two years in the post. In November 2013 U.N. envoy Jamal Benomar told The [[Associated Press]] Hadi will remain president after February 2014 because the transition is not likely to be completed earlier due to "obstruction" from former regime loyalists.<ref>{{cite web| url =https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/yemen-envoy-transition-years-20926722| title =Yemen UN Envoy: Transition Will Be Beyond 2 Years| work =[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]| access-date = 18 November 2013}}</ref>

== Executive branch ==
{{See also|Cabinet of Yemen}}

Under the Constitution, the President is elected by direct, popular vote for a seven-year term. The vice-president, prime minister, and deputy prime ministers are appointed by the President. The Council of Ministers is appointed by the President on the advice of the prime minister.

=== Leadership in [[Aden]] ===
{{office-table}}
|[[President of Yemen|Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council]]
|[[Rashad al-Alimi]]
|[[General People's Congress (Yemen)|General People's Congress]]
|7 April 2022
|-
|[[Prime Minister of Yemen|Prime Minister]]
|[[Salem Saleh bin Braik]]
|[[General People's Congress (Yemen)|General People's Congress]]
|3 May 2025
|}

=== Leadership in [[Sana'a]] ===
{{office-table}}
|[[President of Yemen|Chairman of the Supreme Political Council]]
|[[Mahdi al-Mashat]]
|[[Houthis]]
|25 April 2018
|-
|[[Prime Minister of Yemen|Prime Minister]]
|[[Muhammad Ahmed Miftah]]
|[[General People's Congress (Yemen)|General People's Congress]]
|30 August 2025
|}

== Legislative branch ==
The [[Assembly of Representatives of Yemen|Assembly of Representatives]] (''Majlis al-Nuwaab'') has 301 members, elected for a six-year term in single-seat [[constituency|constituencies]]. In May 1997, the president created a Consultative Council, sometimes referred to as the upper house of Parliament; its 59 members are all appointed by the president. The president of the Consultative Council was [[Abdul Aziz Abdul Ghani]] prior to his death in August 2011.

== Political parties and elections ==
{{elect|Political parties in Yemen|Elections in Yemen}}
In April 2003 parliamentary elections, the [[General People's Congress (Yemen)|General People's Congress]] (GPC) maintained an absolute majority. International observers described the elections as "another significant step forward on Yemen's path toward democracy; however, sustained and forceful efforts must be undertaken to remedy critical flaws in the country's election and political processes."<ref>PRELIMINARY STATEMENT OF THE NDI INTERNATIONAL ELECTION OBSERVER DELEGATION TO YEMEN'S APRIL 27 LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS</ref> There were some problems with underage voting, confiscation of ballot boxes, voter intimidation, and election-related violence; moreover, the political opposition in Yemen has little access to the media, since most outlets are owned or otherwise controlled by the government.

The 2006 elections were described in positive wording, and the elections were monitored by a number of international observers. The EU's Election Observation Mission to Yemen has published this final report on the elections: [https://web.archive.org/web/20070731124132/http://www.eueom-ye.org/pdf/EU_EOM_Yemen_final_report_.pdf] Yemeni media reported on the 22.01.2007 that the opposition coalition JMP has set up a [[Shadow Cabinet|Shadow government]] "to play an effective role in the political, economic and social life".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yobserver.com/cgi-bin/2007/exec/view.cgi/23/11542 |title=Opposition parties form shadow government |access-date=2007-02-11 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070222140307/http://www.yobserver.com/cgi-bin/2007/exec/view.cgi/23/11542 |archive-date=2007-02-22 }}</ref> The ruling party GPC called upon the opposition to "acquaint themselves with constitutional systems before starting to talk every now and then about...rosy dreams and illusions".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.almotamar.net/en/1877.htm|title = - Al-Barakani comments on a JMP's proposed government}}</ref>

== Judicial branch ==
{{Main article|Legal system of Yemen}}
The constitution calls for an independent judiciary. The former northern and southern legal codes have been unified. The legal system includes separate commercial courts and a [[Supreme Court of the Republic (Yemen)|Supreme Court]] based in [[Sanaa]]. The [[Quran]] is the basis for all laws, and no law may contradict it. Indeed, many court cases are debated on the religious basis of the laws i.e. by interpretations of the Quran. For this reason, many judges are religious scholars as well as legal authorities.

== Administrative divisions ==
{{Main article|Governorates of Yemen}}
Yemen is divided into 21 governorates (muhafazat, singular: muhafazah) along with the capital city of Sana’a (Amanat Al-Asimah). The governorates are Abyan, Adan, Amran, Al Asimah, Al Bayda, Al Dhale’e, Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf, Al Mahrah, Al Mahwit, Dhamar, Hadhramawt, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahij, Ma’rib, Raymah, Sa’dah, Shabwah (Ataq), Socotra, and Ta’izz.

== Provincial and local government ==
Formal government authority is centralized in the capital city of Sanaa. Yemen's Local Authority Law decentralized authority by establishing locally elected district and governorate councils (last elected in September 2006), formerly headed by government-appointed governors. After the September 2006 local and governorate council elections, President Salih announced various measures that would enable future governors and directors of the councils to be directly elected. In May 2008, governors were elected for the first time. However, because the ruling party, the General People's Congress (GPC), continues to dominate the local and governorate councils, the May 2008 elections retained this party's executive authority over the governorates. In rural Yemen, direct state control is weak, with tribal confederations acting as autonomous sub-states.<ref name=cp>[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/Yemen.pdf Country profile: Yemen]. [[Library of Congress]] [[Federal Research Division]] (August 2008). {{PD-notice}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Foreign relations of Yemen]]
* [[Constitution of Yemen]]
* [[2011 Yemeni protests]]
* [[Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula]] (AQAP)
* [[State feminism#Yemen|State feminism (section: Yemen)]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20190807170721/http://www.yemen.gov.ye/portal/ Government of Yemen] 
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120831025941/http://www.ypwatch.org/index.php?lng=en Unofficial website of the Parliament of Yemen]}} 

{{Asia topic|Politics of}}

[[Category:Politics of Yemen| ]]

[[bn:ইয়েমেন#রাজনীতি]]