Instead, families tend to dominate politics even if candidates append a nominal party affiliation to their names on the ballot.

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The nominal opposition party, Islah, a conservative mishmash of Islamists and tribesmen, saw which way the wind was blowing and nominated Mr Saleh before his own party did.

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Typically this arrangement appeals to parties on both the left and the right, such that the nominal ruling party may change but the core group in power remain the same.

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