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The United Democratic Front is a political party in Malawi founded in 1992 by Bakili Muluzi.[1] It claims to be a liberal party in Malawi and is mainly strong in the southern region populated by ethnic Yao. Bakili Muluzi was President of Malawi from 1994 to 2004.
United Democratic Front | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | UDF |
| President | Atupele Muluzi |
| Secretary-General | Kandi Padambo |
| Spokesperson | Ken Ndanga |
| Founder | Bakili Muluzi |
| Founded | October 1992 |
| Youth wing | Yellow Youth |
| Ideology | Liberalism |
| Political position | Centre |
| African affiliation | Africa Liberal Network |
| Colors | Yellow, Blue |
| Slogan | Delivering Change in Malawi |
| National Assembly | 10 / 193
|
| SADC PF | 0 / 5
|
| Pan-African Parliament | 0 / 5
|
| Election symbol | |
| Pair of holding hands | |
| Website | |
| www | |
History
editThe United Democratic Front is a prominent political party in Malawi that was founded in 1992 by Bakili Muluzi.[2] Until 2009, the party was a member of Liberal International, which it joined at the latter's Reykjavík Congress in 1994.[3]
Rise of DPP faction
editIt came into power in 1994 under Bakili Muluzi; he was in power until 2004, serving two terms. It continued in power under Bingu wa Mutharika; however, Muluzi remained the head of the party. After succeeding Muluzi, Mutharika came into conflict with much of the party, including Muluzi, and he left the party in February 2005 to form the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). In 2009, it was the DPP which won the election. This led to mass defections from the UDF to the ruling DPP. The party however, continued to restructure.
Political performance
editIn 1994, the UDF candidate Bakili Muluzi came to power in Malawi. In the general election held on 20 May 2004, the UDF's candidate for president, Bingu wa Mutharika, won 35.9% of the vote and was elected. The party also won 49 out of 194 seats.
On 24 April 2008, a UDF convention, which included 2,000 delegates, chose Muluzi as the party's 2009 presidential candidate, despite questions about his eligibility due to term limits. He received 1,950 votes at the convention against 38 for Vice-President Cassim Chilumpha.[4]
UDF presidents
edit- Atupele Muluzi, 2012–2022[5]
- Bakili Muluzi, 1993–2004
UDF members
editElectoral history
editPresidential elections
edit| Election | Party candidate | Votes | % | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Bakili Muluzi | 1,404,754 | 47.15% | Elected 
|
| 1999 | 2,442,685 | 45.21% | Elected
| |
| 2004 | Bingu wa Mutharika | 1,195,586 | 35.97% | Elected
|
| 2014 | Atupele Muluzi | 717,224 | 13.7% | Lost 
|
| 2019 | 235,164 | 4.67% | Lost
|
National Assembly elections
edit| Election | Party leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Bakili Muluzi | 1,375,878 | 46.53% | 85 / 177
|
 85
|
1st
|
| 1999 | 2,124,999 | 47.32% | 93 / 193
|
8
|
 1st
| |
| 2004 | 801,200 | 25.34% | 49 / 193
|
 44
|
1st
| |
| 2009 | 562,025 | 12.92% | 17 / 193
|
32
|
3rd
| |
| 2014 | Atupele Muluzi | 496,765 | 9.63% | 14 / 193
|
3
|
4th
|
| 2019 | 227,335 | 4.58% | 10 / 193
|
4
|
3rd
|
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Eulogy for a Dictator? Malawi's Bingu wa Mutharika | Malawi news, Malawi - NyasaTimes breaking online news source from Malawi". Archived from the original on 22 April 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
- ^ "Eulogy for a Dictator? Malawi's Bingu wa Mutharika | Malawi news, Malawi - NyasaTimes breaking online news source from Malawi". Archived from the original on 22 April 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
- ^ UDF page at Liberal International website Archived 26 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ "Tough times ahead for Muluzi", Sapa-AFP (IOL), 25 April 2008.
- ^ "UDF president Atupele Muluzi quits politics - Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi". www.nyasatimes.com. 28 May 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2022.