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Senegalese Democratic Party

Last modified: 2009-05-18 by rob raeside
Keywords: senegal | sdp | pds | millet |
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[Senegalese flag] image by Ivan Sache, 27 April 2008

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About the SDP

The Parti Démocratique Sénégalais (PDS, Senegalese Democratic Party) was founded in 1974, after President of the Republic Leopold Senghor had allowed multipartism. After unsuccessful attempts in 1978, 1983, 1988 and 1993, his founder and national chairman, the lawyer Abdoulaye Wade (b. 1926), was eventually elected President of the Republic of Senegal on 19 March 2003 and reelected on 25 February 2007. In the general election of 3 June 2007, the PDS was part of the "Coalition Sopi 2007", that received 69 % of the votes and 131 out of the 151 seats in the Parliament. The general election was boycotted by the opposition parties, which had already challenged the results of the  presidential election.
 
Ivan Sache, 27 April 2008

Description of the flag

The symbols of PDS are described in the statutes of the party, as follows.

"Article 6 : Distinction
Chapitre I : Nature - Domaine
Les éléments de distinction du PDS sont :
- Couleur : La couleur du parti est le bleu, symbole de la pureté et aussi de l'immensité, de l'infini et de l'énergie;
- Drapeau : Le drapeau du PDS est d'une seule couleur : le bleu au milieu duquel figure le symbole du parti orienté S.O. vers le N.E.;
- Symbole : Le symbole du parti est un épi de mil couleur Or, illustrant l'idée de la germination, de création et de créativité;
- Devise : La devise du PDS est "Dignité - Justice - Fraternité";
- Signe : Le signe du parti est un V qui signifie victoire;
- Bulletin de vote : Les bulletins de vote du PDS sont d'une seul couleur : Jaune. Ils portent en outre le symbole du parti."

Source: "Coalition Sopi 2007" website

My translation:

"Article 6: Distinction
Chapter I: Nature - Domain
The distinctive elements of the PDS are:
- Colour : The colour of the party shall be blue, as a symbol of purity and also of immensity, infinity and energy;
- Flag: The flag of PDS shall be monochrone blue with in the middle the symbol of the party, placed SW-NE;
- Symbol: The symbol of the party shall be a pearl millet spike, symbolizing germination, creation and creativity;
- Motto: The motto of the PDS shall be "Dignity - Justice - Fraternity";
- Sign: The sign of the party shall be a "V" meaning "Victory";
- Ballot paper: The ballot papers of PDS shall be monochrone yellow. They bear the symbol of the party."

The PDS is a full member of the World Federation of Liberalism, aka Liberal International, founded in 1947. The blue colour is usually
associated with political liberalism. (http://www.liberal-international.org)

Pearl millet (_Pennisetum glaucum_ (L.) R. Br.) is a staple food and fodder crop in several semi-arid parts of the world, including sub-
Sahelian Africa. Pearl millet probably originated from western tropical Africa. (CGIAR website)
Ivan Sache, 27 April 2008