The Democratic and Social Movement ( ar, الحركة الديمقراطية والاجتماعية; french: Mouvement Démocratique et Social, MDS) 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 ...

Algeria ) , image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Algiers , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , relig ...

that was founded in 1966.

History

The party was founded in 1966 as the Socialist Vanguard Party (French: , PAGS) by Bachir Hadj Ali. Although not legally recognized, it persisted as a political opposition party throughout the one-party period in Algeria. As an outgrowth of the Algerian Communist Party ( Parti Communiste Algérien), which disappeared soon after Algerian independence, the PAGS has consistently opposed the government, offering sharp criticism of all political leaders and most of their programs. Its members, referred to as ''"Pagsistes"'', had infiltrated almost every legally recognized mass association despite their unofficial status. The Pagsistes were especially prominent in such organizations as the UNJA and

General Union of Algerian Workers The General Union of Algerian Workers (UGTA, French: ''Union Générale des Travailleurs Algériens'', Arabic: الاتحاد العام للعمال الجزائريين) is the main Algerian trade union, established February 24, 1956 with the obj ...

(UGTA) encouraging leftist tendencies. The PAGS coalition relationship with the regime ended when

Chadli Bendjedid Chadli Bendjedid ( ar, الشاذلي بن جديد; ALA-LC: ''ash-Shādhilī bin Jadīd''; 14 April 1929 – 6 October 2012) was the third President of Algeria and an Algerian Nationalist. His presidential term of office ran from 9 February 19 ...

came to power, who sought to purge pagistes from positions of power within the state-party apparatus, and moved toward

economic liberalization Economic liberalization (or economic liberalisation) is the lessening of government regulations and restrictions in an economy in exchange for greater participation by private entities. In politics, the doctrine is associated with classical liber ...

. The party was legalized in 1989. In 1993, PAGS was reconstructed as Ettehadi by El Hachemi Chérif. A group who wanted to retain the communist legacy of the party broke away and formed the

Algerian Party for Democracy and Socialism The Algerian Party for Democracy and Socialism (french: Parti Algérien pour la Démocratie et le Socialisme, PADS) is a Communist party in Algeria. When in 1993, during the Algerian Civil War, Ettehadi was realigned as a democratic movement resi ...

. During the Algerian Civil War, Ettehadi strongly opposed the Islamists and supported the banning of

Islamic Salvation Front The Islamic Salvation Front ( ar, الجبهة الإسلامية للإنقاذ, al-Jabhah al-Islāmiyah lil-Inqādh; french: Front Islamique du Salut, FIS) was an Islamist political party in Algeria. The party had two major leaders representi ...

, (FIS). In 1999, Ettehadi was reconstructed as the Democratic and Social Movement (''Mouvement Démocratique et Social''). In the 17 May 2007 People's National Assembly

elections An election is a formal group decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual or multiple individuals to hold Public administration, public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative ...

, the MDS won 0.89% of the vote and 1 out of 389 seats.Algerian Interior Ministry

Regional strength

In the Algerian legislative election, 2007, support for the MDS was higher than its national average (0.89%) in the following provinces: *

Mascara Province Mascara ( ar, معسكر ', ber, ⵎⵄⴻⵙⴽⴻⵔ ') is a province ('' wilaya'') in Algeria. It was named after its capital, whose name is Arabic for "military garrison", and which is unrelated to "mascara", the cosmetic. Another important ...

6.73% *

Tissemsilt Province Tissemsilt ( ar, ولاية تسمسيلت) is the 38th province of Algeria with the capital being Tissemsilt. Théniet El Haâd National Park is located there. History The province was created from parts of Alger Province and Tiaret Province ...

3.89% * Béjaïa Province 3.55% *

Béchar Province Béchar ( ar, ولاية بشار) is the second least-densely populated province (''wilaya'') in Algeria, named after its capital Béchar. History The greater part of the province is dry plains (hamadas) suitable for grazing but with insuffic ...

2.66% *

Saïda Province Saïda ( ar, ولاية سعيدة) is a province ('' wilaya'') of Algeria, named after its capital. History The province was created from parts of Oran department, Saïda province and Saoura province in 1974. In 1984 El Bayadh Province an ...

2.42% *

Tébessa Province Tébessa ( ar, ولاية تبسة) is a province (''wilayah'') of Algeria. Tébessa is also the name of the capital, which in ancient times it was known as ''Theveste''. Another important city is El Ouenza. Tébessa is located only 20 kilomete ...

2.19% *

Mila Province Mila ( ar, ولاية ميلة, link=no, ) is a province (''wilayah'') of Algeria, whose capital is Mila. Other localities include Teleghma, Grarem Gouga, Hamala and Rouached. History The province was created from parts of Constantine Province ...

2.16% *

Relizane Province Relizane ( ar, ولاية غليزان) is a province (''wilaya'') of Algeria. Relizane is the capital. Other localities include Bendaoud, Bouzegza, Hamri, Kalaa, Mazouna and Zemmoura. The Wilaya of Relizane massacres of 4 January 1998 happ ...

2.13% *

Chlef Province Chlef ( ar, ولاية الشلف) is a province ('' wilaya'') in Algeria formerly known as El Asnam, and has about 1 million inhabitants. Its capital is Chlef. Another locality is Ténès, on the Mediterranean Sea. History The province was ori ...

2.06% * Sidi Bel Abbès Province 1.81% *

Tlemcen Province Tlemcen ( ar, ولاية تلمسان) is a province (''wilaya'') in northwestern Algeria. The Tlemcen National Park is located there. History The province was created from Oran (department) and Tlemcen department in 1974. Administrative divi ...

1.43% *

Souk Ahras Province Souk Ahras ( ar, ولاية سوق أهراس) is a province (''wilaya'') in the Aures region in Algeria, named after its capital, Souk Ahras. It stands on the border between Algeria and Tunisia. Geography Souk Ahras is situated in the extre ...

1.39% *

Boumerdès Province Boumerdès ( ar, ولاية بومرداس, Kabyle: Tanebḍit n Bumerdas) is a province ('' wilaya'') of northern Algeria, located in the Kabylia region, between Algiers and Tizi-Ouzou, with its capital at the coastal city of Boumerdès (form ...

1.35% *

Skikda Province Skikda ( ar, ولاية سكيكدة) is a province (''wilaya'') of Algeria, on its eastern Mediterranean coastline. History The province was created from Constantine (department) in 1974. Administrative divisions The province is divided into 1 ...

1.23% *

Annaba Province Annaba ( ar, ولاية عنابة) is a province (''wilaya'') in the north-eastern corner of Algeria. Its capital, Annaba, is Algeria's main port for mineral exports. History In 1984 El Taref Province was carved out its territory. Administr ...

1.13%

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Democratic and Social Movement (Algeria) 1966 establishments in Algeria Political parties established in 1966 Political parties in Algeria Socialist parties in Algeria