The Union for the Republic (Union pour la République, UR) is a political party

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 the Republic of the Congo

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...

. It was founded on March 15, 1995, under the leadership of Benjamin Bounkoulou

Benjamin Bounkoulou

Benjamin Bounkoulou is a Congolese politician who served in the government of Congo-Brazzaville as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1992 to 1995 under President Pascal Lissouba. He has been President of the Union for the Republic , a political party, since 1995...

. Bounkoulou remains its President; Michel Bidimbou Pouela has been its Secretary-General since late 2006.

The UR was established by members of parliament who left the ruling Pan-African Union for Social Democracy

Pan-African Union for Social Democracy

The Pan-African Union for Social Democracy is a political party in the Republic of the Congo, led by former president Pascal Lissouba....

 (UPADS) and another party in January 1995, complaining of government favoritism towards people from Niari Region

Niari Region

Niari is a department of the Republic of the Congo in the western part of the country. It borders the departments of Bouenza, Kouilou, and Lékoumou, and internationally, Gabon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Cabinda portion of Angola. The regional capital is Dolisie.Niari is divided...

 and Lékoumou Region

Lékoumou Region

Lékoumou is a department of the Republic of the Congo in the southern part of the country. It borders the departments of Bouenza, Niari, Plateaux, and Pool, and the nation of Gabon. The regional capital is Sibiti...

 at the expense of Bouenza Region

Bouenza Region

Bouenza is a department of the Republic of the Congo in the southern part of the country. It borders the departments of Lékoumou, Niari, and Pool, and internationally, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The regional capital is Madingou...

, from which these members of parliament originated.

The UR is part of the presidential majority supporting 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 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 June 24 and August 5, 2007, the party won 1 out of 137 seats.