Union for Democracy and Progress

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. [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.]

In the 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 parliamentary election held on 19 November and 3 December 2006, it won 3 out of 95 seats; in the Senate election held on 21 January and 4 February 2007, it won 1 out of 56 seats.

The UDP is led by Naha Mint Mouknass, [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.] and as of early 2008 it is the only political party in Mauritania that is headed by a woman. It supported Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi in the 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.

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