Union for Democracy and Progress 2081583 220292345 2008-06-19T04:04:17Z Everyking 44020 The '''Union for Democracy and Progress''' (''Union pour la Démocratie et le Progrès'') is a [[political party]] in [[Mauritania]]. It was founded on [[June 11]] [[1993]] by [[Hamdi Ould Mouknass]], who previously served as Minister of Foreign Affairs under President [[Moktar Ould Daddah]].<ref name=Quitte>[http://apanews.net/apa.php?page=show_article&id_article=66930 "Un parti quitte la majorité présidentielle en Mauritanie"], African Press Agency, June 17, 2008 {{fr icon}}.</ref> In the [[Mauritanian parliamentary election, 2001|parliamentary election]] held on 19 and 26 October 2001, the party won 8.1% of the popular vote and 3 out of 81 seats. In the [[Mauritanian parliamentary election, 2006|parliamentary election]] held on 19 November and 3 December 2006, it won 3 out of 95 seats;<ref name=Quitte/> in the [[Senate of Mauritania|Senate]] [[Mauritanian Senate election, 2007|election]] held on [[21 January]] and [[4 February]] [[2007]], it won 1 out of 56 seats. The UDP is led by [[Naha Mint Mouknass]],<ref name=Quitte/><ref name=Affirme>[http://www.afriquenligne.fr/actualites/politique/mauritanie%3a-l%27udp-affirme-son-independance-2008030116961/ "Mauritanie: L'UDP affirme son indépendance"], Panapress (afriquenligne.fr), March 1, 2008 {{fr icon}}.</ref> and as of early 2008 it is the only political party in Mauritania that is headed by a woman.<ref name=Affirme/> It supported [[Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi]] in the [[Mauritanian presidential election, 2007|March 2007 presidential election]] and was part of the presidential majority following his victory. However, after the formation of the government of Prime Minister [[Yahya Ahmed Ould El Waghef]] in May 2008, the party left the presidential majority in June 2008, objecting to the composition of the government. It said that, while the opposition had been brought into the government, the UDP had been marginalized; the party also said that "the hope for change born on [[August 3]] [[2005]] has been compromised", referring to the ouster of President [[Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya]] on that date.<ref name=Quitte/> ==References== {{reflist}} {{Mauritanian political parties}} {{Mauritania-party-stub}} [[Category:Political parties in Mauritania]]