Editorial: The Mighty Coalition For Democratic Change (CDC) Strengthens Its Bid For A Return To The Presidency
SIX POLITICAL PARTIES have decided to join ranks with the CDC, which appears to put the ruling party a few steps closer to retaining power: People’s Liberation Party (PLP), headed by Tapple E. Doe; Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE), headed by Ambassador Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Sr.; Union of Liberian Democrats (ULD), headed by Jonathan Mason; United People’s Party (UPP), headed by Dr. Da Monynson Tarr; Change Democratic Action (CDA), headed by Ambassador Wendell McIntosh; and Redemption Democratic Congress (RDC), headed by Victor S.N. Saylee, Sr.
BEFORE THE COMING of these parties, the CDC was made up of three parties: Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), headed by President George M. Weah; National Patriot Party (NPP), headed by Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor; and Liberian People Democratic Party (LPDP), headed by former Speaker, J. Alex Tyler. The six new addition brings to nine (9) the number of political parties joining ranks to retain power in the October 10, 2023 general and presidential elections.
ACCORDING TO KEMAYAH, the parties’ decision is in confirmation of the overwhelming development cut across the length and breadth of the country. He said it was an unanimous judgment by members of the six political parties to tie up the re-election quest of the CDC, which he said illustrates an authentic adoration of Liberia.
WELCOMING THE PARTIES to the CDC, President Weah said, “I am honored to grace this historic ceremony today, which is intended to admit six new political parties into the fold of the mighty Coalition for Democratic Change. This will mark a significant enlargement of the CDC into a broad-based political movement that incorporates a multiplicity of diverse and various actors in the Liberian society into a single unified political organization.
PRESIDENT WEAH BROUGHT to the attention of the parties that the CDC is the party of the masses, and that it has always been so from the time of its founding. “It is a grass-roots movement that embodies the hope of ordinary people. For more than a decade after the formation of the party, while in opposition, we championed the cause of the downtrodden. Now, as a ruling party, we have tailored policies and development programs to specifically focus on improving the lives of the poor,” he underscored.
EVEN THOUGH THE “grand coalition” makes the CDC stronger, other political parties are still considered strong based on the political geography of the country. For instance, the Unity Party (UP) arguably holds Lofa County as stronghold, the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR) holds Nimba County and Liberty Party (LP) Grand Bassa. The Alternative National Congress (ANC) holds the support of majority of diaspora Liberians, in addition to the underground work of its Political Leader, Alexander B. Cummings, since the 2017 general and presidential elections.