Party for Social Renewal
Encyclopedia
The Party for Social Renewal is a political party
in Guinea-Bissau
. It is one of the country's leading parties and is currently the main opposition party.
After the founding of political parties besides the ruling African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde
(PAIGC) became legal in 1991, Kumba Ialá
, who had been expelled from the PAIGC, founded the PRS in January 1992. Ialá ran in the 1994 presidential election and received 21,88% in the first round on July 3; although the opposition united behind him in the second round, held on August 7, he lost to President João Bernardo Vieira
, receiving 47,98%. The PRS won 10.3% of the vote and 12 out of 100 seats in the parliamentary election, also held on July 3.
After Vieira was deposed on May 7, 1999, the transition government under Malam Bacai Sanhá
arranged new elections. Once again, Ialá ran for president. In the first round, held in November 1999, he received 38,81% of the votes; in the second round, in January 2000, he decisively defeated Sanhá with 72% of the ballots being cast in his favor. In the legislative elections, also held in November, the PRS won 38 out of 102 seats, becoming the largest party in the National People's Assembly. The PRS chose its third ranking leader, Caetano N'Tchama
, as Prime Minister in January 2000. Ialá resigned as President of the PRS in May 2000, although he continued to play an influential role in the party. Prime Minister Alamara Nhassé
was elected as party leader in January 2002 at a PRS convention; following his dismissal as Prime Minister later in the year, he resigned as party leader and was replaced by Alberto Nan Beia.
The PRS's time in power was characterized by a poor economic situation and political instability. Ialá, alleged by critics to be erratic and to have autocratic tendencies, dissolved parliament in November 2002, but early elections intended to be held in February 2003 were delayed several times, until Ialá was ousted in a coup led by Veríssimo Correia Seabra
on September 14, 2003. Seabra's military government chose the PRS's general secretary, Artur Sanhá
, to become Prime Minister of a transitional government, with Henrique Rosa
as President; they were sworn in on September 28. Sanhá took office despite the opposition of 15 of the 17 involved political parties, which said that the prime minister should be an independent.
The 2004 legislative election
was won by the PAIGC, which received 33,88% of the votes and 45 out of 100 seats; the PRS became the second strongest party in the parliament with 26.50% of the votes and 35 seats. The PRS agreed to support PAIGC in parliament in return for a number of important positions, although it did not get any ministers in the government. Ialá was released from house arrest shortly before the legislative elections, and in March 2005 he was nominated by the PRS as its candidate in the presidential election of that year. He received 25% in the first electoral round and therefore could not participate in the run off, which was held between Malam Bacai Sanhá and João Bernardo Vieira. Ialá and his party protested against the outcome of the first round, claiming to have actually received the most votes, but Ialá later accepted the outcome (while still claiming to have received the most votes) and endorsed Vieira for the second round, while many of his fellow party members continued to challenge the result.
Because of a crisis in the PAIGC, which led to many representatives in parliament of this party to leave it, after Vieira's assumption of office on October 1, 2005, the PRS became the strongest party in the parliament once again.
On November 12, 2006, Ialá was elected head of the PRS again at the party's third congress, with about 70% of the vote; the previous leader, Nan Beia, received 20%. His victory was, however, disputed by his opponents within the party.
In March 2007, the PRS formed a three-party alliance with the PAIGC and the United Social Democratic Party
, and the three parties sought to form a new government. This led to a successful no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Aristides Gomes
and his resignation late in the month; on 9 April, the choice of the three parties for the position of prime minister, Martinho Ndafa Kabi
of PAIGC, was appointed prime minister by Vieira, and on 17 April a new government was named, composed of ministers from the three parties.
In May 2007, following an appeal for the annulment of the third ordinary congress by a faction of the PRS opposed to Ialá, the Regional Court of Bissau cancelled the congress' resolutions and removed Ialá from the party leadership. On August 23, 2007, however, the Supreme Court of Guinea-Bissau reversed this decision and restored Ialá to the party leadership.
Members of the PRS were included in the government headed by Carlos Correia
, which was appointed on August 9, 2008. This government was dominated by Vieira loyalists and members of PAIGC, but the PRS was given five posts in the government (out of 28).
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 Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau
The Republic of Guinea-Bissau is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Senegal to the north, and Guinea to the south and east, with the Atlantic Ocean to its west....
. It is one of the country's leading parties and is currently the main opposition party.
After the founding of political parties besides the ruling African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde
African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde
The African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde or PAIGC is a political party that governed Guinea-Bissau from the independence of the then Portuguese Guinea in 1974, until the late 1990s, and from 2004 to 2005. Currently it is the party with the largest number of seats in the...
(PAIGC) became legal in 1991, Kumba Ialá
Kumba Ialá
Kumba Ialá, also spelled Yalá , is a Guinea-Bissau politician who was President of Guinea-Bissau from 17 February 2000 until he was deposed in a military coup on 14 September 2003. He belongs to the Balanta ethnic group and is the President of the Social Renewal Party...
, who had been expelled from the PAIGC, founded the PRS in January 1992. Ialá ran in the 1994 presidential election and received 21,88% in the first round on July 3; although the opposition united behind him in the second round, held on August 7, he lost to President João Bernardo Vieira
João Bernardo Vieira
João Bernardo "Nino" Vieira was the President of Guinea-Bissau from 1980 to 1999 and again from 2005 to 2009. After seizing power in 1980, Vieira ruled for 19 years, and he won a multiparty presidential election in 1994. He was ousted at the end of the 1998–1999 civil war and went into exile...
, receiving 47,98%. The PRS won 10.3% of the vote and 12 out of 100 seats in the parliamentary election, also held on July 3.
After Vieira was deposed on May 7, 1999, the transition government under Malam Bacai Sanhá
Malam Bacai Sanhá
Malam Bacai Sanhá is a Guinea-Bissau politician who has been President of Guinea-Bissau since 8 September 2009. A member of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde , Sanhá was President of the National People's Assembly from 1994 to 1999 and then served as acting President...
arranged new elections. Once again, Ialá ran for president. In the first round, held in November 1999, he received 38,81% of the votes; in the second round, in January 2000, he decisively defeated Sanhá with 72% of the ballots being cast in his favor. In the legislative elections, also held in November, the PRS won 38 out of 102 seats, becoming the largest party in the National People's Assembly. The PRS chose its third ranking leader, Caetano N'Tchama
Caetano N'Tchama
Caetano N'Tchama is a Guinea-Bissau politician and former Prime Minister. He held that position from 19 February 2000 to 19 March 2001 and is a member of the Social Renewal Party ....
, as Prime Minister in January 2000. Ialá resigned as President of the PRS in May 2000, although he continued to play an influential role in the party. Prime Minister Alamara Nhassé
Alamara Nhassé
Alamara Ntchia Nhassé is a Guinea-Bissau politician, who was Prime Minister from 9 December 2001 to 17 November 2002. Nhassé is currently the President of the National Reconciliation Party; he previously led the Social Renewal Party ....
was elected as party leader in January 2002 at a PRS convention; following his dismissal as Prime Minister later in the year, he resigned as party leader and was replaced by Alberto Nan Beia.
The PRS's time in power was characterized by a poor economic situation and political instability. Ialá, alleged by critics to be erratic and to have autocratic tendencies, dissolved parliament in November 2002, but early elections intended to be held in February 2003 were delayed several times, until Ialá was ousted in a coup led by Veríssimo Correia Seabra
Veríssimo Correia Seabra
Veríssimo Correia Seabra was a Guinea-Bissau general, known for leading a coup that deposed Kumba Ialá on September 14, 2003.-Biography:Correia Seabra was born in the capital city, Bissau, on February 16, 1947...
on September 14, 2003. Seabra's military government chose the PRS's general secretary, Artur Sanhá
Artur Sanhá
António Artur Sanhá is a politician in Guinea-Bissau. He was the Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau from 28 September 2003 to 10 May 2004 and also served as Secretary-General of the Party for Social Renewal ....
, to become Prime Minister of a transitional government, with Henrique Rosa
Henrique Rosa
-Interim President of Guinea-Bissau:He was interim President of Guinea-Bissau from 28 September 2003 to 1 October 2005. His appointment came following a 14 September military coup that deposed the elected government of President Kumba Ialá and subsequent talks between political officials, civil...
as President; they were sworn in on September 28. Sanhá took office despite the opposition of 15 of the 17 involved political parties, which said that the prime minister should be an independent.
The 2004 legislative election
Guinea-Bissau legislative election, 2004
A legislative election was held in Guinea-Bissau on March 28, 2004. The election had been repeatedly postponed due to political and financial chaos in the country, and due to the coup d'état which overthrew President Kumba Ialá in September 2003....
was won by the PAIGC, which received 33,88% of the votes and 45 out of 100 seats; the PRS became the second strongest party in the parliament with 26.50% of the votes and 35 seats. The PRS agreed to support PAIGC in parliament in return for a number of important positions, although it did not get any ministers in the government. Ialá was released from house arrest shortly before the legislative elections, and in March 2005 he was nominated by the PRS as its candidate in the presidential election of that year. He received 25% in the first electoral round and therefore could not participate in the run off, which was held between Malam Bacai Sanhá and João Bernardo Vieira. Ialá and his party protested against the outcome of the first round, claiming to have actually received the most votes, but Ialá later accepted the outcome (while still claiming to have received the most votes) and endorsed Vieira for the second round, while many of his fellow party members continued to challenge the result.
Because of a crisis in the PAIGC, which led to many representatives in parliament of this party to leave it, after Vieira's assumption of office on October 1, 2005, the PRS became the strongest party in the parliament once again.
On November 12, 2006, Ialá was elected head of the PRS again at the party's third congress, with about 70% of the vote; the previous leader, Nan Beia, received 20%. His victory was, however, disputed by his opponents within the party.
In March 2007, the PRS formed a three-party alliance with the PAIGC and the United Social Democratic Party
United Social Democratic Party
The United Social Democratic Party is a centre-left social democratic political party in Guinea-Bissau.Former Prime Minister Francisco Fadul was elected as the President of the PUSD on 18 December 2002 at a party convention in Bissau....
, and the three parties sought to form a new government. This led to a successful no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Aristides Gomes
Aristides Gomes
Aristides Gomes is the President of the Republican Party of Independence for Development in Guinea-Bissau. He was the Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau from 2 November 2005 until 13 April 2007....
and his resignation late in the month; on 9 April, the choice of the three parties for the position of prime minister, Martinho Ndafa Kabi
Martinho Ndafa Kabi
Martinho Ndafa Kabi was the Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau from 13 April 2007 to 5 August 2008. He is a leading member of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde ....
of PAIGC, was appointed prime minister by Vieira, and on 17 April a new government was named, composed of ministers from the three parties.
In May 2007, following an appeal for the annulment of the third ordinary congress by a faction of the PRS opposed to Ialá, the Regional Court of Bissau cancelled the congress' resolutions and removed Ialá from the party leadership. On August 23, 2007, however, the Supreme Court of Guinea-Bissau reversed this decision and restored Ialá to the party leadership.
Members of the PRS were included in the government headed by Carlos Correia
Carlos Correia
Carlos Correia is a Guinea-Bissau politician. He was Prime Minister from 27 December 1991 to 26 October 1994, from 6 June 1997 to 3 December 1998, and from 5 August 2008 to 25 December 2008....
, which was appointed on August 9, 2008. This government was dominated by Vieira loyalists and members of PAIGC, but the PRS was given five posts in the government (out of 28).