In 1995 Ousmane called early parliamentary elections, which saw it gain two seats, but remain the second largest party behind the MNSD.
[1] In presidential elections held in July that year, Ousmane finished second to coup leader Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara.
Since 1999, the CDS has been in an alliance with the MNSD, forming part of the parliamentary majority and participating in the government; it did not nominate a presidential candidate in the 1999 general elections, but won 17 seats in the National Assembly, which Ousmane became President of.
[4] On 25 June 2009, after President of Niger Mamadou Tandja dismissed the National Assembly over his plans to hold a constitutional referendum, the CDS announced its final break with the MNSD government.
Following a 2010 coup, it ran in the 2011 general elections; Ousmane finished fourth in the presidential ballot with 8% of the vote, whilst the party won only three seats in the National Assembly.