Botswana Democratic Party

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Flag of the BDP

The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) is a party in Botswana . Since the first election in 1965, it has had a majority in the National Assembly and thus the government.

history

The BDP was founded in 1961 as the third party of the then Bechuanaland protectorate by Seretse Khama , the traditional head of the Bamangwato . Before the country gained independence, the party was called the Bechuanaland Democratic Party (BDP). She was supported by the European rulers because of her moderate stance; the more radical Botswana People's Party split into several wings. In the first general election in 1965 she won 28 of the 31 seats. Since the independence of Botswana in 1966, she has been the uninterrupted government. In the 2004 elections, the BDP won 44 out of 57 seats in the National Assembly. Five years later, the party under Ian Khama also achieved an overwhelming majority, but lost several seats in 2014 and received 37 of the 57 seats. The BDP received less than 50% of the vote for the first time.

In 2014, the party joined the Socialist International as a consultative member at the request of the South African African National Congress , although the BDP is considered conservative. Their condition was to continue to advocate the death penalty .

In 2018, Mokgweetsi Masisi was elected President of the BDP and therefore President of the country. At the scheduled election of the BDP President, planned for July 2019, alongside Masisi, long-time minister Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi , who is considered a supporter of Ian Khamas, was elected. However, she withdrew the candidacy on the day of the vote.

In the 2019 election , the BDP won an absolute majority of votes, as it was last in 2009, and 38 of the 57 elected mandates. So she continues to provide the president. In the capital Gaborone in particular , she was able to remove mandates from the opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change .

structure

The party is led by a chairperson , since April 2018 Slumber Tsogwane , who is also the country's vice-president. The party includes the BDP Youth League and the BDP Women's Wing . The headquarters of the BDP is in Gaborone.

Known members

Former Presidents of Botswana

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Botswana: political party formation and independence (1958–1966). EISA 2002, accessed May 3, 2018
  2. ↑ cf. Botswana's President Ian Khama confirmed in office. diepresse.com of October 18, 2009 (accessed on October 18, 2009)
  3. ↑ Dikarabo Ramadubu: ANC wants BDP to join the Socialist International. botswanaguardian.co.bw, February 14, 2014, accessed April 26, 2018
  4. ^ Members of the SI at socialistinternational.org (English), accessed on April 26, 2018
  5. ↑ Botswana's Masisi says he is not afraid to die. herald.co.zw of February 4, 2019 (English), accessed on February 4, 2019
  6. ↑ Xinhua: Botswana parly endorses new VP. herald.co.zw of April 5, 2018 (English), accessed on May 3, 2018