Democratic and Social Convention-Rahama

The Democratic and Social Convention - Rahama (French: Convention démocratique et sociale-Rahama, CDS-Rahama) is a political party in Niger.

It was founded in January 1991. In the February 1993 parliamentary elections the party won 22 of the 83 seats in the National Assembly, finishing second to the National Movement for the Development of Society (MNDS). In the subsequent presidential elections, CDS-Rahama leader Mahamane Ousmane was elected president, defeating the MNSD' Mamadou Tandja. In 1995 Ousmane called early parliamentary elections, which saw it gain two seats, but remain the second largest party behind the MNSD. In January 1996 he was ousted in a coup. In presidential elections held in July that year, Ousmane finished second to coup leader Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara. The party boycotted the parliamentary elections later that year.

Since 1999, the CDS has been in an alliance with the MNSD, forming part of the parliamentary majority and participating in the government; it did not nominate a presidential candidate in the 1999 general elections, but won 17 seats in the National Assembly, which Ousmane became President of. In the 2004 general elections, Ousmane was the CDS presidential candidate for the fourth time, finishing third with 17.4% of the vote. In the parliamentary elections, the party received 17.4% of the popular vote and won 22 of the 113 seats. Following the election, the MNSD resumed its coalition government with CDS-Rahama, whose 22 seats give the President and Prime Minister a 69-seat majority in the National Assembly, with Ousmane re-elected as President of the National Assembly.

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