The Centrist Democratic Party (, PDC) is a

political party A political party is an organization that coordinates candidates to compete in a particular country's elections. It is common for the members of a party to hold similar ideas about politics, and parties may promote specific political ideology ...

Rwanda Rwanda (; rw, u Rwanda ), officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge. Located a few degrees south of the Equator ...

History

The party was established as the Christian Democratic Party (''Parti Démocratique Chrêtien'') in 1991 by Jean-Népomuscène Nayinzira.Aimable Twagilimana (2007) ''Historical Dictionary of Rwanda'', Scarecrow Press, p135 It joined the government in December 1991 and was given a single ministerial post.Tom Lansford (2014) ''Political Handbook of the World 2014'', CQ Press, p1204 In the run-up to the August 2003 presidential elections the party was banned as a result of a constitutional prohibition on religious-based parties. The party was reconstituted as the Centrist Democratic Party in time to contest the September parliamentary 2003 elections, in which it allied itself with the ruling

Rwandan Patriotic Front The Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF–Inkotanyi, french: Front patriotique rwandais, FPR) is the ruling political party in Rwanda. Led by President Paul Kagame, the party has governed the country since its armed wing defeated government forces, winn ...

, winning three seats. PDC leader

Alfred Mukezamfura Alfred may refer to: Arts and entertainment *''Alfred J. Kwak'', Dutch-German-Japanese anime television series *Alfred (Arne opera), ''Alfred'' (Arne opera), a 1740 masque by Thomas Arne *Alfred (Dvořák), ''Alfred'' (Dvořák), an 1870 opera ...

was elected Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies. The party continued its alliance with the RPF for the 2008 parliamentary elections, but was reduced to one seat. In 2009

Agnès Mukabaranga Agnes Mukabaranga is a Rwandan politician. Mukabaranga is a member of the Christian Democratic Party (Rwanda), Christian Democratic Party (PDC) and member of both the Pan-African Parliament and former member of both the National Assembly of Rwanda ...

was elected leader of the party after Mukezamfura stepped down. It was again part of the RPF-led alliance for the 2013 parliamentary elections, in which it retained its single seat.

References

External links

Official website
Political parties in Rwanda Christian democratic parties in Africa Christianity in Rwanda Political parties established in 1991 1991 establishments in Rwanda Religious organisations based in Rwanda {{Rwanda-stub