Progressive Party (South Africa)

Progressive Party
Progressiewe Party (Afrikaans)
LeaderColin Eglin
Founded1959
Dissolved1975
Split fromUnited Party
Merged intoProgressive Reform Party
IdeologyLiberalism
Anti-apartheid
Political positionCentre-left

The Progressive Party (Afrikaans: Progressiewe Party) was a liberal party in South Africa which, during the era of apartheid, was considered the left wing of the all-white parliament. The party represented the legal opposition to apartheid within South Africa's white minority. It opposed the ruling National Party's racial policies, and championed the rule of law. For 13 years, its only member of parliament was Helen Suzman. It was later renamed the Progressive Reform Party in 1975, and then Progressive Federal Party in 1977. The modern Democratic Alliance considers the party to be its earliest predecessor.

The Progressive Party of South Africa is not to be confused with the much earlier Progressive Party of the Cape Colony, which was founded on very different, pro-imperialist policies and which became the "Union Party" in 1908.