Centrist opposition party founded by former Governor of Katanga, and 2023 presidential candidate, Moïse Katumbi, who announced its formation upon departure from his Sacred Union party. Katumbi was joined by several ministers in Prime Minister Lukonde's government. Katumbi was named by Jeune Afrique "African of the Year" in 2015, and "the second most powerful man" in the DRC by the Economist. Katumbi's renown and his party posed such a threat to the regime that lawmakers in the National Assembly introduced a bill on July 9, 2021 with Katumbi in mind that would restrict the presidency to only Congolese nationals with two Congolese parents (Katumbi's father was Greek and Jewish). Government harassment of Katumbi accentuated upon his declaration for the presidency in 2023, his associates besmirched and even assassinated [Link] Party picked up 18 seats in the national parliament after elections held in 2023 [Ensemble pour la République (EPR)].
