[1] The party built on previous attempts by native anti-colonial activists in the early 20th century to re-assert ethnic Egyptian identity, based in part on national independence from the British and the Ottomans, the establishment of a secular and democratic national government, and the formalization of the local language.

It also sought to revive the indigenous Egyptian language and to disassociate Egypt from the Arab nationalist policies introduced by Gamal Abdel Nasser.

The Liberal Egyptian Party called for separating religion from politics and most civil affairs.

In its early history, it called for full normalization with Israel, though this stance was repealed after subsequent alliances with Islamists and leftists.

The co-founders of the Liberal Egyptian party were Mahmoud El Pher'oni, from the Assiut Governorate and Cynthia Farahat, an Egyptian-American author.