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Popular Movementof the Revolution Mouvement populaire de la Révolution | |
|---|---|
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| Abbreviation | MPR |
| President | Mobutu Sese Seko |
| Founder | Mobutu Sese Seko |
| Founded | 20 May 1967 (1967-05-20) |
| Dissolved | 16 May 1997 (1997-05-16) |
| Headquarters | Kinshasa, Zaire |
| Ideology | Mobutism |
| Political position | Right-wing |
| Colors | Green |
| Party flag | |
.svg) | |
ThePopular Movement of the Revolution (French:Mouvement Populaire de la Révolution,abbr.MPR) was the rulingpolitical party inZaire (known for part of its existence as theDemocratic Republic of the Congo). For most of its existence, it wasthe only legally permitted party in the country. It was founded by Joseph-Désiré Mobutu (laterMobutu Sese Seko) on 20 May 1967.
The official ideology of the MPR, as laid down in theManifesto of N'sele in May 1967, incorporated "nationalism", "revolution", and "authenticity". Revolution was described as a "truly national revolution, essentially pragmatic," which called for "the repudiation of bothcapitalism andcommunism."[1] One of the MPR's slogans was "Neitherleft norright," to which would be added "nor evencentre" in later years.[1] Nevertheless, historians consider Mobutu's regime to be right-wing[2][3][better source needed] and there is evidence ofeconomic liberalization during Mobutu's rule as he appointedLéon Kengo wa Dondo, a prominent advocate offree market reform, asprime minister.[citation needed]
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From its formation in 1967 to 1990, the MPR wasde facto the only legal party in the country. The 1967 constitution explicitly allowed the existence of two parties.[4] However, the MPR was the only party allowed to nominate candidates inpresidential andparliamentary elections held in November 1970. A month later, on 23 December, the constitution was amended to formally declare the MPR to be the only legally permitted party.[5][6]
The1974 constitution enshrined the MPR's status as the vanguard of the nation. It stated that "there exists a single institution, the MPR, incarnated by its President," that the "President of the MPR isex officio President of the Republic, and holds the plenitude of power exercise," and that "Mobutism" was constitutional doctrine. All citizens of Zaire became members of the MPR at birth.[7] In effect, the government was a transmission belt for the MPR, and the MPR gradually subsumed ministries, universities, and trade unions.[8]
The MPR elected its president every seven years at its national convention (five years before 1978). At that time, the MPR's president was automatically nominated as the sole candidate for a seven-year term as president of the republic; he was confirmed in office by a national referendum. Mobutu was elected unopposed as president three times under this system, with official figures showing an implausible 98 percent or more of voters approving his candidacy against at most 1.8 percent either voting "no," casting blank ballots or spoiling their ballot papers. Every five years, a single list of MPR candidates was returned to the legislature, with unanimous or near-unanimous support. All of these candidates were effectively handpicked by Mobutu.[citation needed]
In 1975, formal elections were dispensed with altogether. Instead, the MPR list was approved byacclamation; candidates were simply brought out at stadiums and other public places and cheered by the audiences.[citation needed]
For all intents and purposes, the MPR and the government were one. This effectively gave Mobutu complete political control over the country.[citation needed]
The single-party system lasted until 24 April 1990, the date of the proclamation of the Third Republic. On that date, Mobutu said that three political parties would be allowed. The "moderate" and "hardline" factions of the MPR would form separate parties, while the third party would be theUnion for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS).[9] Under the new multiparty system, Mobutu said that he would be above political parties, and accordingly he resigned as the president of the MPR on the same date, although he again accepted the post of party president a year later, on 21 April 1991.[10]
The party had no real ideology other than support for Mobutu. As such, it quickly declined when Mobutu was overthrown byLaurent-Désiré Kabila in 1997, during theFirst Congo War. However, its legacy and symbolism were continued by smaller parties in the modern-day DR Congo. These included theUnion of Mobutist Democrats (UDEMO), a Mobutist political party in parliament led byNzanga Mobutu, the son of Mobutu Sese Seko; and the MPR-Fait privé under Cathérine Marthe Nzuzi wa Mbombo.[11]
| Election | Party candidate | Votes | % | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Mobutu Sese Seko | 10,131,669 | 100% | Elected Y |
| 1977 | 10,693,804 | 98.2% | ElectedY | |
| 1984 | 14,885,997 | 99.1% | ElectedY |
| Election | Party leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Position | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Mobutu Sese Seko | 9,691,132 | 99% | 420 / 420 |  420 | 1st | Sole legal party |
| 1975 | Approved byacclamation[12] | 244 / 244 |  176 |  1st | Sole legal party | ||
| 1977 | 10,180,685 | 100% | 289 / 289 | 45 | 1st | Sole legal party | |
| 1982 | 310 / 310 | 21 | 1st | Sole legal party | |||
| 1987 | 210 / 210 | 100 | 1st | Sole legal party | |||
U.S. preference for right-wing dictators is ultimately dictated by its entrenched aversion to radical political change.
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