Center-left democratizing opposition party founded by technocrat and MP Pierre Mamboundou (died on 10/15/11).
Mamboundou intentionally launched his party on the 200-year anniversary date of the French Revolution (July 14, 1989), to symbolize his intent to overthrow the authoritarian Gabonese regime. This earned him imprisonment in absentia and exile.
Mamboundou was the candidate
of the High Council of Resistance (HCR) - the main coalition of opposition parties - in the 1998 presidential election. He placed second behind his mortal enemy, Omar Bongo [L’Union du peuple gabonais (UPG)].
