The one-party period of São Tomé and Príncipe lasted from the country's independence in 1975 to 1991, when the dominant party, Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe – Social Democratic Party, lost in the first multiparty elections to the PCD-GR.[1] The party won the 1991 parliamentary election and was the ruling party from 1991 to 1994. Since 1994 its power has declined, and it has maintained coalitions with other parties, first the MLSTP and then the Forces for Change Coalition of current President Fradique de Menezes. It was led for several years by Alda Bandeira.