Social Democratic Party (Rwanda)

Social Democratic Party

Parti Social Démocrate
Social Democratic Party Parti Social Démocrate
President	Vincent Biruta
Headquarters	Kigali
Ideology	Social democracy
Political position	Centre-left
Chamber of Deputies	5 / 80
Party flag
Website
	www.psd-rwanda.rw
	Politics of Rwanda; Political parties; Elections;

The Social Democratic Party (French: Parti Social Démocrate; Kinyarwanda: Ishyaka Riharanira Demokarasi n'Imibereho Myiza y'Abaturage, lit. 'Party for Democracy and Social Welfare') is a centre-left social democratic political party in Rwanda. The party is seen as somewhat supportive of the Paul Kagame government.

History

The party was established on 1 July 1991 by Félicien Gatabazi and Frédéric Nzamurambaho, and was nicknamed the "Party of Intellectuals".^[1] It formed a bloc opposing President Juvénal Habyarimana alongside the Liberal Party and the Republican Democratic Movement, but by the time of the Rwandan genocide, it was the only major party that Habyarimana had failed to split.^[1] 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.^[1]

At the end of the genocide the party joined the national unity government. It supported President Paul Kagame in the 2003 presidential elections,^[2] 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 as its candidate; he received 5% of the vote, coming second to Kagame, who received 93%.^[3]

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.

Election results

Presidential elections

Election	Party candidate	Votes	%	Result
2003	Supported Paul Kagame (RPF)	3,544,777	95.06%	Elected Y
2010	Jean Damascene Ntawukuriryayo	256,488	5.15%	Lost N

Chamber of Deputies elections

Election	Votes	%	Seats	+/–	Position	Government
2003	463,067	12.31%	7 / 80	New	2nd	Support
2008	609,327	13.12%	7 / 80	0	2nd	Support
2013		13.03%	7 / 80	0	2nd	Support
2018	586,215	8.80%	5 / 80	2	2nd	Support
2024	767,143	8.62%	5 / 80	0	3rd	Support

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Aimable Twagilimana (2007) Historical Dictionary of Rwanda, Scarecrow Press, p180
^ "Rwanda votes in election without opposition" Archived 2011-05-20 at the Wayback Machine, AFP, 15 September 2008.
^ "Kagame sweeps 93% of Rwandan votes". Afronline. Società Editoriale Vita S.p.A. 11 August 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-13.

[HD-1] Aimable Twagilimana (2007) Historical Dictionary of Rwanda, Scarecrow Press, p180

[2] "Rwanda votes in election without opposition" Archived 2011-05-20 at the Wayback Machine, AFP, 15 September 2008.

[3] "Kagame sweeps 93% of Rwandan votes". Afronline. Società Editoriale Vita S.p.A. 11 August 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-13.

[1]

[2]

[3]