This article lists political parties in Niger.

Niger ) , official_languages = , languages_type = National languagesmulti-party system In political science, a multi-party system is a political system in which multiple political parties across the political spectrum run for national elections, and all have the capacity to gain control of government offices, separately or in ...

, with two to three strong

political parties 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 ...

and smaller parties electorally successful to take seats in the

National Assembly In politics, a national assembly is either a unicameral legislature, the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or both houses of a bicameral legislature together. In the English language it generally means "an assembly composed of the r ...

. These smaller parties frequently enter into electoral coalitions with their more powerful opponents, forming blocs in both government and opposition.

Party naming

Nigerien political parties are commonly known both by their acronyms and a nickname. The latter tradition began prior to independence with the Nigerien Democratic Union-Sawaba. Sawaba ("Freedom" in Hausa) became the most common name of the party. Today all large parties have an official "nickname", usually in Hausa, Djerma or other national languages, while the official party name is in French.

Multi-party democracy

Niger banned all opposition parties from 1959 (prior to independence) to 1991. During the First Republic (1960-1974), the PPN-RDA was the sole party. From 1987-1991, MNSD-Nassara was the only legal party. Both parties survive in somewhat altered forms.

Parties

Parties represented in parliament

Smaller contemporary parties

* Nigerien Self-Management Party PNA-Al'ouma (''Parti Nigérien pour l’Autogestion-Al'ouma'') * Republican Party for Liberty and Progress-Nakowa PRLPN-Nakowa *

Party for Socialism and Democracy in Niger The Party for Socialism and Democracy in Niger (french: Parti pour le socialisme et la démocratie au Niger, PSDN-Alheri) is a political party in Niger. History The PSDN was established on 18 May 1992. In the 1993 general elections the party ...

PSDN-Alheri (''Parti pour le socialisme et la démocratie au Niger-Alheri'') * Union for Democracy and Social Progress-Amana UDPS-Amana * Union for Democracy and the Republic UDR-Tabbat (''Union pour la Démocratie et la République-Tabbat'') *

Union of Independent Nigeriens The Union of Independent Nigeriens (, UNI) is a political party in Niger. History The UNI was established on 17 May 1999. In the October 1999 general elections it nominated Amadou Ali Djibo as its presidential candidate; he finished last in a ...

UNI (''Union des Nigériens Indépendants'') *

Union of Democratic and Progressive Patriots The Union of Democratic and Progressive Patriots (french: Union des Patriotes Démocrates et Progressistes, UPDP-Chamoua) is a centrist political party in Niger, founded and led by André Salifou, who has run for president on several occasions.Ji ...

-Chamoua UPDP-Chamoua *Nigerien Development Party

Previously dominant parties

Democratic and Social Convention The Democratic and Social Convention - Rahama (french: Convention démocratique et sociale-Rahama, CDS-Rahama) is a political party in Niger. History It was founded in January 1991. In the February 1993 parliamentary elections the party won 22 ...

CDS-Rahama (''Convention démocratique et sociale-Rahama'') *

Nigerien Progressive Party – African Democratic Rally The Nigerien Progressive Party – African Democratic Rally (, PPN-RDA) is a political party in Niger. It was the leading political party of the pre-independence era, becoming the sole legal party of the First Republic (1960–1974). It was led ...

PPN-RDA (''Parti Progressiste Nigérien-Rassemblement Démocratique Nigerien'') * Union of Popular Forces for Democracy and Progress-Sawaba UDFP-Sawaba *

Nigerien Action Bloc The Nigerien Action Bloc (french: Bloc nigérien d'action, BNA) was a political party in Niger in 1955 and 1956 led by Issoufou Saidou Djermakoye, a traditional chief and former chairman of the Nigerien Progressive Party (PPN). History The part ...

(BNA): 1946–53/1956–57 * Union of Nigerien Independents and Sympathisers (UNIS) 1953–57 * Party of Independents, Niger–East (''Parti Independent du Niger-Est'', PINE) 1948–53 *

Nigerien Democratic Front The Nigerien Democratic Front (french: Front démocratique nigérien, FDN) was a political party in Niger. It published the party journal ''L'Unité'' ('Unity'). History The party was founded by Zodi Ikhia and his followers on March 6, 1957, as ...

(FDN) 1956–58

Coalitions

* Alliance of the Forces of Change (AFC): a nine (later six) party coalition from 1991-1996. Ruling coalition from 1993-1994. * Union for the Franco-African Community (UCFA): PPN led pro-

French Union The French Union () was a political entity created by the French Fourth Republic to replace the old French colonial empire system, colloquially known as the " French Empire" (). It was the formal end of the "indigenous" () status of French subj ...

coalition: 1958. *Coordination of Democratic Forces (CFD, ''Coordination des forces démocratiques''): 11 party opposition coalition from 2004. Led by PNDS. Included PPN, PNA-Al'ouma, UNI, UDR-Tabbat.

References

*Samuel Decalo. ''Historical Dictionary of Niger'' (3rd ed.). Scarecrow Press, Boston & Folkestone, 1997. pp. 247–255 ("Political Parties"). {{Africa in topic, List of political parties in

Niger ) , official_languages = , languages_type = National languagesPolitical Parties 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 ...

Niger ) , official_languages = , languages_type = National languagesPolitical parties 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 ...