The Social Democratic Party (; , ) is a

centre-left Centre-left politics is the range of left-wing political ideologies that lean closer to the political centre. Ideologies commonly associated with it include social democracy, social liberalism, progressivism, and green politics. Ideas commo ...

social democratic Social democracy is a Social philosophy, social, Economic ideology, economic, and political philosophy within socialism that supports Democracy, political and economic democracy and a gradualist, reformist, and democratic approach toward achi ...

political party in

Rwanda Rwanda, officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of East Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge. Located a few degrees south of the Equator, Rwanda is bordered by ...

. The party is seen as somewhat supportive of the

Paul Kagame Paul Kagame ( ; born 23 October 1957) is a Rwandan politician and former military officer who has been the President of Rwanda since 2000. He was previously a commander of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), a rebel armed force which invaded ...

government.

History

The party was established on 1 July 1991 by

Félicien Gatabazi Félicien Gatabazi (died 21 February 1994) was a Rwandan politician who was killed in the lead-up to the Rwandan genocide. At the time of his death he was secretary general of the Social Democratic Party (Rwanda), Social Democratic Party and served ...

and

Frédéric Nzamurambaho Frédéric and Frédérick are the French versions of the common male given name Frederick. They may refer to: In artistry: * Frédéric Back, Canadian award-winning animator * Frédéric Bartholdi, French sculptor * Frédéric Bazille, Impre ...

, and was nicknamed the "Party of Intellectuals".Aimable Twagilimana (2007) ''Historical Dictionary of Rwanda'', Scarecrow Press, p180 It formed a bloc opposing President

Juvénal Habyarimana Juvénal Habyarimana (; ; 8 March 19376 April 1994) was a Rwandan politician and military officer who was the second president of Rwanda, from 1973 until Assassination of Juvénal Habyarimana and Cyprien Ntaryamira, his assassination in 1994. H ...

alongside the

Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. For example, while the political systems ...

and the

Republican Democratic Movement The Republican Democratic Movement (, MDR) was a political party in Rwanda. History The party was established in 1991,Rwandan genocide The Rwandan genocide, also known as the genocide against the Tutsi, occurred from 7 April to 19 July 1994 during the Rwandan Civil War. Over a span of around 100 days, members of the Tutsi ethnic group, as well as some moderate Hutu and Gre ...

, it was the only major party that Habyarimana had failed to split. The PSD's main leaders were killed in the morning of the first day of the genocide as Théoneste Bagosora sought to create a vacuum in order to seize power. At the end of the genocide the party joined the national unity government. It supported President

in the 2003 presidential elections, and received 12% of the vote in the 2003 parliamentary elections, winning seven seats. The party's vote share rose to 13% in the 2008 elections, as it retained its seven seats. In the 2010 presidential elections the party fielded

Jean Damascene Ntawukuriryayo Jean may refer to: People * Jean (female given name) * Jean (male given name) * Jean (surname) Fictional characters * Jean Grey, a Marvel Comics character * Jean Valjean, fictional character in novel ''Les Misérables'' and its adaptations * J ...

as its candidate; he received 5% of the vote, coming second to Kagame, who received 93%. In the 2013 parliamentary elections the party again received 13% of the vote, winning seven seats. It was reduced to five seats in the

2018 elections The following elections occurred in 2018. The National Democratic Institute also maintains a calendar of elections around the world. Africa *2018 Djiboutian parliamentary election 23 February 2018 *2018 Sierra Leonean general election 7 and 31 ...

Election results

Presidential elections

Chamber of Deputies elections

References

{{Rwandan political parties 1991 establishments in Rwanda Political parties established in 1991 Political parties in Rwanda Social democratic parties in Africa Socialism in Rwanda