Liberal Party (Rwanda)

The Liberal Party (French: Parti Libéral, PL) is a liberal political party in Rwanda led by Prosper Higiro.

Liberal Party
Parti Libéral
LeaderProsper Higiro
Founded1991
HeadquartersKigali
IdeologyLiberalism
Political positionCentre
ColorsGreen, yellow
Chamber of Deputies
4 / 80
Website
www.pl-rwanda.org

History

The party was established in 1991.[1] Although it refused to join the government formed by Sylvestre Nsanzimana later in the year, it joined Dismas Nsengiyaremye's government in April 1992.[2] As a result of its involvement with government,[2] and efforts by associates of President Juvénal Habyarimana,[1] the party split into pro- and anti-government factions.

It joined the Rwandan Patriotic Front-led government in 1994 after the end of the genocide. Prosper Higiro became leader of the party in 2001.[2] In the 2003 parliamentary elections the party received 11% of the vote and won six of the 53 elected seats.

In 2007 Protais Mitali was elected leader of the party.[2] A dispute over the conduct of the elections led to two MPs and five officials being expelled from the party.[2] The 2008 parliamentary elections saw the party's vote share fall to 7.5% as it was reduced to four seats.

Higiro was nominated as the party's candidate for the 2010 presidential elections, receiving 1.4% of the vote. In the 2013 parliamentary elections the party received 9% of the vote, winning five seats. It was reduced to four seats in the 2018 parliamentary elections.

Electoral history

Presidential elections
Election Candidate Votes % Result
2010 Prosper Higiro 68,235 1.37% Lost Red XN

Chamber of Deputies elections
Election Leader Votes % Seats +/– Position
2003 Prosper Higiro 396,978 10.56%
6 / 80
 Increase 7 Increase 3rd
2008 348,186 7.50%
4 / 80
 Decrease 2 Steady 3rd
2013 9.29%
5 / 80
 Increase 1 Steady 3rd
2018 479,631 7.20%
4 / 80
 Decrease 1 Steady 3rd

References
  1. Aimable Twagilimana (2015) Historical Dictionary of Rwanda, Rowman & Littlefield, p180
  2. Arthur S Banks, Thomas C Miller, William R Overstreet & Judith F Isacoff (2009) Political Handbook of the World 2009, CQ Press, p1125
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