Liberal Party (Rwanda)

The Liberal Party  is a liberal political party in Rwanda led by Prosper Higiro.  It was started in 1991.Aimable Twagilimana  (2015) Historical Dictionary of Rwanda, Rowman & Littlefield, p180 Although it refused to join the government formed by Sylvestre Nsanzimana later in the year, it joined Dismas Nsengiyaremye's government in April 1992.  It  split into pro- and anti-government factions.

It joined the Rwandan Patriotic Front-led government in 1994.   In the 2003 parliamentary elections the party got 11% of the vote and won six of the 53 elected seats.

In 2007 Protais Mitali was elected leader of the party. A dispute over the conduct of the elections led to two MPs and five officials being expelled from the party. The 2008 parliamentary elections saw the party's vote share fall to 7.5%. It was reduced to four seats.

Higiro was nominated as the party's candidate for the 2010 presidential elections, receiving 1.4% of the vote. In the 2013 parliamentary elections the party got 9% of the vote, winning five seats. It was reduced to four seats in the 2018 parliamentary elections.Arthur S Banks, Thomas C Miller, William R Overstreet & Judith F Isacoff (2009) Political Handbook of the World 2009, CQ Press, p1125

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Category:Political parties in Rwanda
Category:Liberal parties