Congolese Progressive Party
Encyclopedia
The Congolese Progressive Party was a political party
in Congo-Brazzaville. It was the first Congolese political party (founded by Jean-Félix Tchicaya
in 1945), and the Congolese section of the African Democratic Rally
(RDA). Until 1950 PPC was closely connected to the French Communist Party
. The party was largely based amongst the Vili people. Aubert-Lucien Lounda was the General Secretary of the party.
Many of the activists of the CGT
trade union
movement in Congo (which later became an independent trade union centre, CGAT) were members of the PPC. The party had youth and women's sections, but these were not very active. PPC published AEF Nouvelle between 1947 and 1949.
PPC won the 1946 French National Assembly election
in Moyen-Congo, obtaining 46% of the votes. Tchicaya was elected Member of Parliament. In the first Moyen-Congo Representative Council election, held in 1947, PPC got 62,5% of the votes. PPC got 15 seats in the council, whilst French Section of the Workers' International (SFIO) got 9. When the Communist Party was expelled from the French government in May 1947, it had repercussions in the PPC as well. The PPC suffered a series of disagreements as a result.
PPC remained the most voted party in the 1951 French National Assembly election
, winning 44% of the votes. In the 1952 Moyen-Congo Representative Council election PPC got 34% of the votes.
Two future Congolese statesmen, Fulbert Youlou
and Alphonse Massamba-Débat, were members of the PPC at the time. In 1956 they both left the party, and joined UDDIA. With Youlou's rise to political prominence, the influence of PPC declined. In the 1956 municipal elections in Brazzaville
, PPC got 2,478 and three seats (out of 37). In the PPC stronghold of Pointe-Noire
, the party mustered to get 8 seats.
In March 1957 a PPC-African Socialist Movement
(MSA) alliance was formed. The PPC-MSA bloc obtained a majority, 25 seats (out of whom two seats were held by PPC), in the new Territorial Assembly of Moyen-Congo. A government led by the MSA leader Jacques Opangault
was formed. But the alliance between PPC and MSA would not last. In September 1957 the majority fell apart, and UDDIA formed a new government. In the same year, the RDA had broken its links with PPC and sided with UDDIA. After the break with RDA, the PPC aligned itself with the African Regroupment Party
(PRA).
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Congo-Brazzaville. It was the first Congolese political party (founded by Jean-Félix Tchicaya
Jean-Félix Tchicaya
Jean-Félix Tchicaya was a Congolese politician in the French colony of Middle Congo. He was born in Libreville on the 9th of November 1903 and a member of the royal family of the Kingdom of Loango....
in 1945), and the Congolese section of the African Democratic Rally
African Democratic Rally
The African Democratic Rally was a political party in French West Africa, led by Félix Houphouët-Boigny. Founded in Bamako in 1946, the RDA quickly became one of the most important forces for independence in the region. Initially a Pan-Africanist movement, the RDA ceased to function as a...
(RDA). Until 1950 PPC was closely connected to the French Communist Party
French Communist Party
The French Communist Party is a political party in France which advocates the principles of communism.Although its electoral support has declined in recent decades, the PCF retains a large membership, behind only that of the Union for a Popular Movement , and considerable influence in French...
. The party was largely based amongst the Vili people. Aubert-Lucien Lounda was the General Secretary of the party.
Many of the activists of the CGT
Confédération générale du travail
The General Confederation of Labour is a national trade union center, the first of the five major French confederations of trade unions.It is the largest in terms of votes , and second largest in terms of membership numbers.Its membership decreased to 650,000 members in 1995-96 The General...
trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
movement in Congo (which later became an independent trade union centre, CGAT) were members of the PPC. The party had youth and women's sections, but these were not very active. PPC published AEF Nouvelle between 1947 and 1949.
PPC won the 1946 French National Assembly election
French legislative election, November 1946
Legislative election was held in France on 10 November 1946 to elect the first National Assembly of the Fourth Republic. The electoral system used was proportional representation....
in Moyen-Congo, obtaining 46% of the votes. Tchicaya was elected Member of Parliament. In the first Moyen-Congo Representative Council election, held in 1947, PPC got 62,5% of the votes. PPC got 15 seats in the council, whilst French Section of the Workers' International (SFIO) got 9. When the Communist Party was expelled from the French government in May 1947, it had repercussions in the PPC as well. The PPC suffered a series of disagreements as a result.
PPC remained the most voted party in the 1951 French National Assembly election
French legislative election, 1951
Legislative elections were held in France on 17 June 1951 to elect the second National Assembly of the Fourth Republic.After the Second World War, the three parties which took a major part in the French Resistance to the German occupation dominated the political scene and government: the French...
, winning 44% of the votes. In the 1952 Moyen-Congo Representative Council election PPC got 34% of the votes.
Two future Congolese statesmen, Fulbert Youlou
Fulbert Youlou
Abbé Fulbert Youlou was a Brazzaville-Congolese Roman Catholic priest, nationalist leader and politician.-Early life:...
and Alphonse Massamba-Débat, were members of the PPC at the time. In 1956 they both left the party, and joined UDDIA. With Youlou's rise to political prominence, the influence of PPC declined. In the 1956 municipal elections in Brazzaville
Brazzaville
-Transport:The city is home to Maya-Maya Airport and a railway station on the Congo-Ocean Railway. It is also an important river port, with ferries sailing to Kinshasa and to Bangui via Impfondo...
, PPC got 2,478 and three seats (out of 37). In the PPC stronghold of Pointe-Noire
Pointe-Noire
Pointe-Noire is the second largest city in the Republic of the Congo, following the capital of Brazzaville, and an autonomous department since 2004. Before this date it was the capital of the Kouilou region . It is situated on a headland between Pointe-Noire Bay and the Atlantic Ocean...
, the party mustered to get 8 seats.
In March 1957 a PPC-African Socialist Movement
African Socialist Movement
African Socialist Movement was a political party in French West Africa. The MSA was formed following a meeting of the Section française de l'Internationale ouvrière federations of Cameroon, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, French Sudan , Gabon, Guinea, Niger, Oubangui-Chari , and Senegal; the...
(MSA) alliance was formed. The PPC-MSA bloc obtained a majority, 25 seats (out of whom two seats were held by PPC), in the new Territorial Assembly of Moyen-Congo. A government led by the MSA leader Jacques Opangault
Jacques Opangault
Jacques Opangault was a Congolese politician. The founder of the Mouvement Socialiste Africain , he competed with Félix Tchicaya's Parti Progressiste Congolais during two-party rule in Congo during the 1950s. He served as the first colonial prime minister of the Republic of the Congo...
was formed. But the alliance between PPC and MSA would not last. In September 1957 the majority fell apart, and UDDIA formed a new government. In the same year, the RDA had broken its links with PPC and sided with UDDIA. After the break with RDA, the PPC aligned itself with the African Regroupment Party
African Regroupment Party
The African Regroupment Party was a political party in the French African colonies.-Formation:The PRA came into being at a meeting in Paris on March 26, 1958, months before the French Community would replace the French Union. The main founding organizations were the African Convention and the...
(PRA).