United Democratic Front (Malawi)

The United Democratic Front claims to be a liberal party in Malawi and is mainly strong in the southern region populated by ethnic Yao. The party is a member of Liberal International, which it joined at the latter's Reykjavík Congress in 1994. [ [http://www.liberal-international.org/editorial.asp?ia_id=758 UDF page at Liberal International website] .] Bakili Muluzi, who was president of Malawi from 1994 to 2004, is the chairman of the UDF.

In the general election held on 20 May 2004, the UDF's candidate for president, Bingu wa Mutharika, won 35.9% of the vote and was elected. The party also won 49 out of 194 seats.After succeeding Muluzi, Mutharika came into conflict with much of the party, including Muluzi, and he left the party in February 2005 to form the Democratic Progressive Party.

On April 24 2008, a UDF convention, which included 2,000 delegates, chose Muluzi as the party's 2009 presidential candidate, despite questions about his eligibility due to term limits. He received 1,950 votes at the convention against 38 for Vice-President Cassim Chilumpha. [ [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=nw20080425090732485C433345 "Tough times ahead for Muluzi"] , Sapa-AFP ("IOL"), April 25, 2008.]

ee also

*Liberalism
*Contributions to liberal theory
*Liberalism worldwide
*List of liberal parties
*Liberal democracy

References