The Social Democratic Party (; , ) 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".Aimable Twagilimana (2007) Historical Dictionary of Rwanda, Scarecrow Press, p180 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. 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 Paul Kagame in the 2003 presidential elections,"Rwanda votes in election without opposition" , AFP, 15 September 2008. 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%.
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 2010 Jean Damascene Ntawukuriryayo 256,488 5.15% Lost
Chamber of Deputies elections Election Votes % Seats +/– Position Government 2003 463,067 12.31% New 2nd 2008 609,327 13.12% 0 2nd 2013 13.03% 0 2nd 2018 586,215 8.80% 2 2nd 2024 767,143 8.62% 0 3rd
References