The party was established in 1946 by Justin Ahomadégbé-Tomêtin and Émile Poisson due to their dissatisfaction with the policies of the Dahomeyan Progressive Union (UPD).[1] In the 1946–47 General Council elections the party won 6 of the 30 seats, finishing second to the Dahomeyan Progressive Union;[2] Ahomadégbé-Tomêtin and Poisson were both elected.