The UDPM organized itself along the Marxist–Leninist principle of democratic centralism. However, as with many other African socialist parties, it did not identify itself as Marxist due to the perceived association between Marxism and atheism; the Malian political elite was mostly Muslim, and Muslim religious leaders played a key role in the independence movement.[citation needed] UDPM had a Central Executive Bureau with 19 members and a National Council with 137 members.[1] As the party's general secretary, Traoré was the only candidate for president of the republic.