Senegalese Democratic Bloc (in

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

: ''Bloc Démocratique Sénégalais'') was a political party in Senegal, founded on 27 October 1948 by Léopold Sédar Senghor, following a split from the

French Section of the Workers' International The French Section of the Workers' International (french: Section française de l'Internationale ouvrière, SFIO) was a political party in France that was founded in 1905 and succeeded in 1969 by the modern-day Socialist Party. The SFIO was found ...

(SFIO). One month after the split from SFIO, Senghor associated himself with the Indépendants d'Outre-Mer parliamentary fraction. The BDS united the uniting the Union Générale des Originaires du Fleuve, the Mouvement des Forces Démocratiques de Casamance, and the Association des Toucouleurs du Fouta Toro. In the 1951 legislative elections BDS got 213 182 votes (67% of the votes cast in Senegal). Two BDS members are elected MPs, Senghor and Abbas Gueye (a local CGT leader). The electoral campaign was marred by violence between BDS and SFIO. BDS relied heavily on religious and tribal authorities to spread their influence. The combination of the capability to gather many different ethnic group and Senghor's personal charisma ensured BDS predominance in Senegalese pre-Independence politics. In 1956 BDS won the municipal elections in Kaolack,

Thiès Thiès (; ar, ثيس, Ṯyass; Noon: ''Chess'') is the third largest city in Senegal with a population officially estimated at 320,000 in 2005. It lies east of Dakar on the N2 road and at the junction of railway lines to Dakar, Bamako and St-L ...

Louga Louga ( ar, لوجا; Wolof: Luga) is a town in northwestern Senegal. Louga is a cattle market centre, and has road and rail links with the port city of Saint-Louis to the northwest and Dakar to the southwest. The area surrounding Louga is a ...

Diourbel Diourbel ( ar, ديوربل; Serer: ''Jurbel'', Wolof: ''Njaaréem'') is a town in Senegal lying east of Thiès. It is known for its mosque and local groundnut industry and is the capital of the Diourbel Region. The population in 2013 was 1 ...

and

Ziguinchor Ziguinchor (; wo, Siggcoor ; ar, زيغينكور) is the capital of the Ziguinchor Region, and the chief town of the Casamance area of Senegal, lying at the mouth of the Casamance River. It has a population of over 230,000 (2007 estimate). It ...

. BDS lost in Dakar. On 18 August 1956 BDS held its last plenary meeting. That meeting paved the way for the merger of BDS with the

Senegalese Democratic Union Senegalese Democratic Union (in French: ''Union Démocratique Sénégalais'') was a political party in Senegal, founded in 1946 by the Communist Study Groups (GEC). UDS became affiliated as the Senegalese section of the African Democratic Rall ...

(UDS),

Casamance Autonomist Movement Casamancian Autonomous Movement (in French: ''Mouvement Autonome Casamançais'') was a political party in Casamance, southern Senegal. MAC was led by Assane Seck. MAC was initially linked to French Section of the Workers' International (SFIO), b ...

(MAC) and a fraction of the

Senegalese Popular Movement Senegalese Popular Movement (in French: ''Mouvement Populaire Sénégalais'') was a political party in Senegal. MPS was formed as the Senegalese section of the African Democratic Rally (RDA), following the expulsion of the Senegalese Democratic ...

(MPS) led by Abdolaye Thiaw. The result of the merger was the creation of the

Senegalese Popular Bloc The Senegalese Popular Bloc (in French: ''Bloc Populaire Sénégalais'' (BPS)) was the result of the merger of the Senegalese Democratic Bloc (BDS) of Léopold Sédar Senghor, Senegalese Democratic Union (UDS), Casamancian Autonomous Movement (MA ...

(BPS).

Sources

{{reflist Political parties established in 1948 Political parties in Senegal 1948 establishments in French West Africa Political parties disestablished in 1956 1956 disestablishments in French West Africa