Path: ICPP > ICPP1980 > Table of Contents > Essay on Party Politics > Party 821

Democratic Party of Guinea, 821
Variables and Codes for 1950-1962
2-- Governmental Status Variables
2.01

Government Discrimination

2.04

National Participation

2.02

Governmental Leadership

2.05

Legislative Strength

2.03

Cabinet Participation

2.06

Electoral Strength


2.01 government discrimination
4 for 1950-56, AC8
16 for 1957-62, AC3
The data indicated colonial, i.e. French, discrimination against the PDG. This discrimination apparently took the form of threats of dismissal from government jobs for those government functionaries who were members of the PDG. However, after the institution of the "loi-cadre" in 1956, the colonial government took a more neutral position towards the PDG. The lack of information for the second time period caused a lowering of the adequacy confidence score. All opposition parties joined PDG in 1958 and Guinea was from this time on a one party state.
2.02 governmental leadership
0 out of 7 for 1950-56, AC9
6 out of 6 for 1957-62, AC9
The PDG established itself as the governing authority in Guinea with the 1957 elections, which gave the party 57 of 60 seats in the legislative assembly. Saifoulaye Diallo of the PDG was elected President of the Assembly, and later in the year Toure became Vice-President of the governmental council, which amounted to the head of state under the "loi-cadre".
2.03 cabinet participation
0 out of 7 for 1950-56, AC5
6 out of 6 for 1957-62, AC9
Apparently, the PDG did not participate in the government in any important respect until the elections of 1957, when it won 57 of the seats in the territorial assembly, which then selected members of the council of government, acting in effect like a cabinet. The PDG dominated the council of government until independence in 1958, and it continued its role in Toure's cabinet, which was responsible to him personally.
2.04 national participation
5 for 1950-56, AC6
6 for 1957-62, AC8
The PDG was not considered a regional party but competed across the country. Its success was more variable during the first part of our period, when it was weak in Fouta-Djallon or Moyenne Guinee. Through the BPN (Bureau Politique Nationale) the organization was directed towards the nation as a whole.
2.05 legislative strength
Strength is .00 for 1950-56, AC7 and .98 for 1957-62, AC8
The PDG was unrepresented in the territorial assembly until the 1957 election, when the party won 57 of 60 seats. By 1959, the PDG controlled all the seats in the legislature.
2.06 electoral strength
Strength is .37 for 1950-1956, AC6 and .77 for 1957-1962, AC6
Elections were held in 1951, 1954, 1956, 1957, and 1958. The proportion of votes won by the PDG grew from 14 percent in 1951 to 77 percent in 1957.
2.07 outside origin
8, AC8
The PDG was formed by leaders of the labor unions which are considered major legal social organizations. There were also intellectuals and government functionaries involved in the PDG formation.