Democratic Congress
{{short description|Political party in Lesotho}}
{{Distinguish|Lesotho Congress for Democracy}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox political party
| name = Democratic Congress
| logo = Logo of the Democratic Congress.png
| logo_size =
| colorcode = {{party color|Democratic Congress}}
| leader = Mathibeli Mokhothu
| chairperson =
| president =
| spokesperson =
| founder = Pakalitha Mosisili
| slogan = Nete Ke Thebe, Sechaba ke Poho!
| foundation = {{Start date|df=y|2012}}
| split = Lesotho Congress for Democracy
| seats1_title = National Assembly
| seats1 = {{Composition bar|29|120|{{party color|Democratic Congress}}}}
| ideology = Pan-Africanism
Social democracy
| position = Centre-left
| headquarters =
| international =
| website = {{URL|https://www.dc.org.ls}}
| country = Lesotho
}}
The Democratic Congress is a political party in Lesotho that split from the Lesotho Congress for Democracy. It is led by Mathibeli Mokhothu.
History
Before the 2012 election, the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy split, with Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili leaving the party.{{cite web |url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012%5C05%5C27%5Cstory_27-5-2012_pg4_2 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130416074733/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012%5C05%5C27%5Cstory_27-5-2012_pg4_2 |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 April 2013 |title=Leading News Resource of Pakistan |publisher=Daily Times |date= |accessdate=29 May 2012 }} He then founded the Democratic Congress, initially incorporating the name of LCD founder Ntsu Mokhehle in the name of the party. The LCD Secretary-General Mothetjoa Metsing then moved to lead the LCD.{{cite web|author= |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201202101099.html |title=Lesotho: Jumping Before He's Pushed |publisher=allAfrica.com |date=21 February 2012 |accessdate=29 May 2012}}
Electoral performance
In its first election the party won a plurality of seats,{{cite web |url=http://www.iec.org.ls/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=298&Itemid=56 |title=IEC Live Results 2012 |publisher=Iec.org.ls |accessdate=29 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120601221013/http://www.iec.org.ls/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=298&Itemid=56 |archivedate=1 June 2012 }} but failed to get a majority after the allotment of proportional seats. They attempted to form a coalition government but failed.
Election Results
| class="wikitable" |
| Election
! Votes ! Share ! Seats ! +/- ! Government |
|---|
| 2012
| 218,366 | 39.58 | {{Composition bar|48|120|hex={{party color|Democratic Congress}}}} | New | {{no2|Opposition}} |
| 2015
| 218,573 | 38.37 | {{Composition bar|47|120|hex={{party color|Democratic Congress}}}} | {{decrease}} 1 | {{yes2|Government}} |
| 2017
| 150,172 | 25.82 | {{Composition bar|30|120|hex={{party color|Democratic Congress}}}} | {{decrease}} 17 | {{no2|Opposition}} |
| 2022
| 128,105 | 24.87 | {{Composition bar|29|120|hex={{party color|Democratic Congress}}}} | {{decrease}} 1 | {{no2|Opposition}} |
Splits
In December 2016, Monyane Moleleki, then deputy leader of the Democratic Congress, unveiled a new political party he had formed following his and some members of DC's national executive committee's attempts at ousting Mosisili from the DC.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thepost.co.ls/local-news/moleleki-unveils-new-party/|title = Moleleki unveils new party|date = 16 December 2016}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.dc.org.ls/}}
- {{Facebook|Democratic-Congress}}
{{Lesotho political parties}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Democratic Congress}}
Category:2011 establishments in Lesotho
Category:Pan-Africanism in Lesotho
Category:Pan-Africanist political parties in Africa
Category:Political parties established in 2011
Category:Political parties in Lesotho
Category:Social democratic parties in Africa
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