Front for Democracy and the Republic

The Front for Democracy and the Republic ( _fr. Front pour la démocratie et la république) is an opposition coalition in Mali that fought the presidential election on 29 April 2007 and the parliamentary election of 1 July and 22 July 2007. The FDR is an umbrella organisation, bringing together 16 independent political parties and groups. [ [http://apanews.net/article_eng.php3?id_article=25240 "Forces lined up for 29 April presidential election in Mali"] , African Press Agency, April 9, 2007.] It rejected the official results of the election, according to which incumbent president Amadou Toumani Touré won with about 71% of the vote, and alleged fraud, unsuccessfully asking the Constitutional Court to annul the election. [ [http://apanews.net/article_eng.php3?id_article=32468 "Presidential contenders claim for cancellation of last Sunday polls"] , African Press Agency, May 1, 2007.] [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6623603.stm "Mali opposition seeks poll re-run"] , BBC News, 4 May 2007.] [http://www.jeuneafrique.com/fluxafp/fil_info.asp?art_cle=36776 "Présidentielle au Mali: la Cour constitutionnelle valide la réélection de Touré"] , AFP (Jeuneafrique.com), May 12, 2007 fr.] On 19 May, the leading FDR candidate, National Assembly president Ibrahim Boubacar Kéita, said that the group would abide by the court's decision to confirm Touré's victory [ [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=nw20070520215240812C984842 "Mali opposition concedes Toure's re-election"] , Reuters ("IOL"), May 21, 2007.] and would concentrate on the July 2007 parliamentary election. [ [http://www.jeuneafrique.com/fluxafp/fil_info.asp?reg_id=0&art_cle=36880 "Mali/présidentielle: l'opposition finit par accepter une défaite trop large"] , AFP (Jeuneafrique.com), May 20, 2007 fr.]

Of the eight candidates who fought the presidential election, four were affiliated with the FDR alliance:
*Ibrahim Boubacar Kéita (RPM)
*Tiébilé Dramé (PARENA)
*Soumeylou Boubéye Maiga (Convergence 2007)
*Mamadou Blaise Sangaré (Social Democratic Convention)

The parties and other organisations were:
*Rally for Mali (RPM)
*Party for National Rebirth (PARENA)
*Social Democratic Convention (CDS-Mogotiguiya)
*Concertation démocratique
*COPP
*DPM
*Faso
*MPDD
*PARI
*PER
*PRDDM
*RDR
*RDT
*RJP
*Convergence 2007
*ADJ

In the July 2007 parliamentary election, the FDR won a total of 15 out of 147 seats: 11 for the RPM and four for PARENA. [http://fr.allafrica.com/stories/200708131307.html "Mali: Résultats définitifs des Législatives - l'Adéma/PASJ perd dans trois localités"] , "Les Echos" (allAfrica.com), August 13, 2007 fr.]

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