The MDP was established in 1992.[1] In the 1993 parliamentary elections it received 0.5% of the vote, failing to win a seat in the National Assembly. It also failed to win a seat in the 1995 elections, but won one seat in the 1996 elections, which were boycotted by the main opposition parties.[2] Party leader Maï Manga Boukar was subsequently appointed Minister of Mines and Industry.