{{short description|Political party in Lesotho}} {{Distinguish|Lesotho Congress for Democracy}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}} {{Infobox political party | name = Democratic Congress | logo = Logo of the Democratic Congress.png | logo_size = | colorcode = {{party color|Democratic Congress}} | leader = Mathibeli Mokhothu | chairperson = | president = | spokesperson = | founder = Pakalitha Mosisili | slogan = ''Nete Ke Thebe, Sechaba ke Poho!'' | foundation = {{Start date|df=y|2012}} | split = Lesotho Congress for Democracy | seats1_title = National Assembly | seats1 = {{Composition bar|29|120|{{party color|Democratic Congress}}}} | ideology = Pan-Africanism<br>Social democracy | position = Centre-left | headquarters = | international = | colors = Red, Green, Black | website = {{URL|https://www.dc.org.ls}} | country = Lesotho }}
The '''Democratic Congress''' is a political party in Lesotho that split from the Lesotho Congress for Democracy. It is led by Mathibeli Mokhothu.
== History == Before the 2012 election, the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) split, with Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili leaving the party.<ref name="dtimes">{{cite web |url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012%5C05%5C27%5Cstory_27-5-2012_pg4_2 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130416074733/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012%5C05%5C27%5Cstory_27-5-2012_pg4_2 |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 April 2013 |title=Leading News Resource of Pakistan |publisher=Daily Times |date= |accessdate=29 May 2012 }}</ref> He then founded the Democratic Congress, initially incorporating the name of LCD founder Ntsu Mokhehle into the name of the new party. LCD Secretary-General Mothetjoa Metsing subsequently moved to lead the LCD.<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201202101099.html |title=Lesotho: Jumping Before He's Pushed |publisher=allAfrica.com |date=21 February 2012 |accessdate=29 May 2012}}</ref>
== Electoral performance == In its first election, the party won a plurality of seats,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iec.org.ls/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=298&Itemid=56 |title=IEC Live Results 2012 |publisher=Iec.org.ls |accessdate=29 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120601221013/http://www.iec.org.ls/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=298&Itemid=56 |archivedate=1 June 2012 }}</ref> but failed to secure a majority after the allotment of proportional seats. It attempted to form a coalition government but was unsuccessful.
== Election results ==
{| class="wikitable" |- ! Election ! Votes ! Share ! Seats ! +/- ! Government |- ! 2012 | 218,366 | 39.58 | {{Composition bar|48|120|hex={{party color|Democratic Congress}}}} | New | {{no2|Opposition}} |- ! 2015 | 218,573 | 38.37 | {{Composition bar|47|120|hex={{party color|Democratic Congress}}}} | {{decrease}} 1 | {{yes2|Government}} |- ! 2017 | 150,172 | 25.82 | {{Composition bar|30|120|hex={{party color|Democratic Congress}}}} | {{decrease}} 17 | {{no2|Opposition}} |- ! 2022 | 128,105 | 24.87 | {{Composition bar|29|120|hex={{party color|Democratic Congress}}}} | {{decrease}} 1 | {{no2|Opposition}} |- |}
== Splits == In December 2016, Monyane Moleleki, then deputy leader of the Democratic Congress, unveiled a new political party he had formed following his and some members of DC's national executive committee's attempts at ousting Mosisili from the DC.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thepost.co.ls/local-news/moleleki-unveils-new-party/|title = Moleleki unveils new party|date = 16 December 2016}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Official website|https://www.dc.org.ls/}} *{{Facebook|Democratic-Congress}} {{Lesotho political parties}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Democratic Congress}} Category:2011 establishments in Lesotho Category:Pan-Africanism in Lesotho Category:Pan-Africanist political parties in Africa Category:Political parties established in 2011 Category:Political parties in Lesotho Category:Social democratic parties in Africa Category:Socialism in Lesotho
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