Libyan Arab Socialist Union

The Libyan Arab Socialist Union was a Libyan political party from 1971 to 1977 based on the principles of Nasserist Arab socialism. Muammar Gaddafi served as chairman of the party. History On 11 June 1971, Gaddafi declared the formation of the Arab Socialist Union as the sole legal party of Libya. Gaddafi announced that it would bring true democracy with all participating, eliminate class distinctions and form a new socialist ideology based on Islam, rejecting Marxism. Many aspects of Muammar Gaddafi's Libyan Arab nationalist, republican, and Arab socialist revolution were based on that of Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser. Like Nasser, Gaddafi seized power with a Free Officers Movement, which became the Revolutionary Command Council. Like its Egyptian counterpart, the Libyan ASU was the sole legal party and was designed as a vehicle for integrated national expression rather than as a political party. The party was open to all Arabs, however only a few non-Libyans joined. Bashir Hawady was the general secretary of the party. In May 1972, the Libyan ASU and the Egyptian ASU agreed to merge their two parties into a single body. The Arab Socialist Union was closely controlled by the Revolutionary Command Council, which had the power to annul any resolution or dissolve any branch. Trade unions were incorporated into the ASU.