[3] The party participated in the December 1997 parliamentary election, but failed to win any seats,[1] obtaining 2.3% of the vote.
[4] The PND only presented candidates in Ali Sabieh Region in the 1997 election,[5] and it performed well there, losing to the ruling coalition by only 500 votes.
In May 1997, Awaleh suspended PND spokesman Farah Ali Wabert from the party, a move that reportedly exacerbated the situation.
In the parliamentary election held on 10 January 2003, the party was included in the joint candidate lists of the UMP, which won 62.7% of the popular vote and all seats.
[10] The PND split from the ruling coalition in 2010 after Guelleh pushed through constitutional changes allowing him to run for a third term.