People's Movement for Democratic Change

Infobox Political party
party_name = People's Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC)
party_
leader = Charles Margai
foundation =
ideology = Liberalism
headquarters = 44 Mahei Boima Rd
Bo, Sierra Leone(National headquarter)
international =
website = The People's Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC) is a newly formed political party in Sierra Leone. It was officially registered on 19 January 2006.The party is led by Charles Margai, a former member of the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP), which is the main opposition party in Sierra Leone. The PMDC is based in the country second largest city of Bo.

Margai, as the PMDC's candidate in August 2007 presidential election, received third place, behind Ernest Bai Koroma of the opposition All Peoples Congress (APC) and Solomon Berewa of the SLPP. On August 19, Margai stated his support for Koroma in the second round of the election. [ [http://awarenesstimes.com/drwebsite/publish/article_20056276.shtml "In Sierra Leone, Margai endorses Ernest Koroma at his 62nd Birthday Party"] , "Awareness Times", August 19, 2007.] On August 20, the PMDC's Karamoh Kabba explained what he said was the reasoning behind the decision: the PMDC sought to "ensure a more representative government, the survival of the PMDC as a political party and the creation of a third formidable political force for smooth running of democracy in Sierra Leone". According to Kabba, backing the APC would help to bridge the regional political divide marking Sierra Leone's politics (the SLPP and PMDC draw their main support from the south, while the APC draws its main support from the north), while backing the SLPP would deepen it; furthermore, he said that the APC had a natural reason to want the PMDC to survive, while the SLPP had a natural reason to want to destroy it. [ [http://awarenesstimes.com/drwebsite/publish/article_20056295.shtml "'Why We Went APC' - PMDC's Karamoh Kabba Speaks"] , "Awareness Times", August 20, 2007.] PMDC Secretary-General Ansu Lansana described Koroma as "the lesser of two evils", said that Koroma had "promised a clean break from the APC of the past" and that he should be given an opportunity. [Kari Barber, [http://voanews.com/english/2007-08-21-voa21.cfm "Sierra Leone Opposition Candidates to Ally Themselves Ahead of Runoff Election"] , VOA News, August 21, 2007.]

Margai's support for the APC provoked controversy in the PMDC, with some feeling that his decision was made without properly consulting the party. [Peter Clottey, [http://www.voanews.com/english/Africa/2007-08-21-voa3.cfm "Some Executives of Sierra Leone’s Opposition PMDC Unhappy"] , VOA News, August 21, 2007.] [ [http://awarenesstimes.com/drwebsite/publish/article_20056286.shtml "In Sierra Leone, PMDC Rank & File Condemn Charles Margai"] , "Awareness Times", August 20, 2007.] Margai said on August 24 that the PMDC would campaign together with the APC for the second round. [ [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=86&art_id=nw20070824192835994C801444 "Sierra Leone opposition unite"] , Reuters ("IOL"), August 24, 2007.]

At the parliamentary election that was held on the same day as the first round of the 2007 presidential elections, the PMDC became the third largest party in Parliament with 10 seats.

References

External links

* [http://www.pmdcsl.org/ Official site]