New Democratic Forces
Encyclopedia
The New Democratic Forces (Forces Démocratiques Nouvelles) was a political party
in Congo-Brazzaville
from 2007 to 2011.
Seven parties, which were formerly members of the United Democratic Forces
(FDU), agreed to merge to form the FDN on 27 March 2007. They were joined by an additional eight parties and political associations on 10 April, resulting in a total of 15: ACOSS, the URN, the UNDP, the RDPC, Parrreco, PR-Le National, the RP, the MURC, the FNDP, CASAP, the ADP, Poucouna, the PPES, the PNDC, and the PPDS. One of them—the Union for National Recovery (URN), led by Gabriel Bokilo
—subsequently withdrew from the agreement. Like the FDU, the FDN supports President Denis Sassou Nguesso
.
In the immediate aftermath of its formation, the FDN was headed by a collective of seven presidents. It then held its constitutive congress in Brazzaville
on 19–21 April 2007. This congress initiated a two-year transitional process in the development of the party. The congress elected a National Council with 415 members, a National Executive Bureau with seven members, a Permanent Secretariat with 41 members, and a Control and Evaluation Commission with seven members. The National Executive Bureau was jointly headed by Léon Alfred Opimbat and Jean-Marie Tassoua
, while Emile Aurélien Bongouandé was chosen as coordinator of the Permanent Secretariat. In addition to Opimba and Tassou, the party's co-presidents, four vice-presidents were chosen. On behalf of the new party, Opimbat and Tassoua signed an electoral agreement with Sassou Nguesso's Congolese Labour Party (PCT) on 15 May 2007.
In the parliamentary election
held on 24 June and 5 August 2007, the party won three out of 137 seats: Jean-Marie Tassoua in Dougou constituency (in Likouala Region
), Charlotte Opimbat in the first constituency of Poto-Poto
(in Brazzaville
), and Léon Alfred Opimbat in Mbomo constituency (in Cuvette West Region).
The FDN signed an agreement to join the Rally of the Presidential Majority (RMP) coalition on 27 March 2008. It subsequently merged itself into the Congolese Labour Party (PCT) on 19 July 2011.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Congo-Brazzaville
Republic of the Congo
The Republic of the Congo , sometimes known locally as Congo-Brazzaville, is a state in Central Africa. It is bordered by Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo , the Angolan exclave province of Cabinda, and the Gulf of Guinea.The region was dominated by...
from 2007 to 2011.
Seven parties, which were formerly members of the United Democratic Forces
United Democratic Forces
The United Democratic Forces were a center-right electoral alliance in Bulgaria, led by the Union of Democratic Forces.-Members of the coalition:1997 *Union of Democratic Forces...
(FDU), agreed to merge to form the FDN on 27 March 2007. They were joined by an additional eight parties and political associations on 10 April, resulting in a total of 15: ACOSS, the URN, the UNDP, the RDPC, Parrreco, PR-Le National, the RP, the MURC, the FNDP, CASAP, the ADP, Poucouna, the PPES, the PNDC, and the PPDS. One of them—the Union for National Recovery (URN), led by Gabriel Bokilo
Gabriel Bokilo
Gabriel Bokilo was a Congolese politician and the President of the Union for National Redress .-Administrative career:Bokilo studied in France and earned a doctorate...
—subsequently withdrew from the agreement. Like the FDU, the FDN supports President Denis Sassou Nguesso
Denis Sassou Nguesso
Denis Sassou Nguesso is a Congolese politician who has been the President of Congo-Brazzaville since 1997; he was previously President from 1979 to 1992. During his first period as President, he headed the single-party regime of the Congolese Labour Party for 12 years...
.
In the immediate aftermath of its formation, the FDN was headed by a collective of seven presidents. It then held its constitutive congress in Brazzaville
Brazzaville
-Transport:The city is home to Maya-Maya Airport and a railway station on the Congo-Ocean Railway. It is also an important river port, with ferries sailing to Kinshasa and to Bangui via Impfondo...
on 19–21 April 2007. This congress initiated a two-year transitional process in the development of the party. The congress elected a National Council with 415 members, a National Executive Bureau with seven members, a Permanent Secretariat with 41 members, and a Control and Evaluation Commission with seven members. The National Executive Bureau was jointly headed by Léon Alfred Opimbat and Jean-Marie Tassoua
Jean-Marie Tassoua
Jean-Marie Tassoua is a Congolese politician. Tassoua was a militia commander during the 1997 civil war and served in the government of Congo-Brazzaville as Minister of Energy and Hydraulics from 1997 to 2002...
, while Emile Aurélien Bongouandé was chosen as coordinator of the Permanent Secretariat. In addition to Opimba and Tassou, the party's co-presidents, four vice-presidents were chosen. On behalf of the new party, Opimbat and Tassoua signed an electoral agreement with Sassou Nguesso's Congolese Labour Party (PCT) on 15 May 2007.
In the parliamentary election
Republic of the Congo parliamentary election, 2007
A parliamentary election was held in the Republic of the Congo on 24 June 2007, with a second round initially planned for 22 July 2007, but then postponed to 5 August 2007. According to the National Commission of the Organization of the Elections , 1,807 candidates stood in the first round for 137...
held on 24 June and 5 August 2007, the party won three out of 137 seats: Jean-Marie Tassoua in Dougou constituency (in Likouala Region
Likouala Region
Likouala is a department of the Republic of the Congo in the northern part of the country. It borders the departments of Cuvette and Sangha, and internationally, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic. The region has an area of 66,044 km² and an estimated...
), Charlotte Opimbat in the first constituency of Poto-Poto
Poto-Poto
Poto-Poto is the name of one of the original residential neighborhoods of the city of Brazzaville, capital of the Republic of Congo.-History:...
(in Brazzaville
Brazzaville
-Transport:The city is home to Maya-Maya Airport and a railway station on the Congo-Ocean Railway. It is also an important river port, with ferries sailing to Kinshasa and to Bangui via Impfondo...
), and Léon Alfred Opimbat in Mbomo constituency (in Cuvette West Region).
The FDN signed an agreement to join the Rally of the Presidential Majority (RMP) coalition on 27 March 2008. It subsequently merged itself into the Congolese Labour Party (PCT) on 19 July 2011.