Bagaza, an ethnic Tutsi, had established a military dictatorship in Burundi from 1976 until his deposition in 1987, after which he lived in exile.
He was allowed to return to the country during its democratization under Pierre Buyoya after 1992.
[2] The party received 1.7% of the vote in the July 2005 parliamentary elections, but failed to win a seat.
In 2014 Bagaza resigned the leadership of the party and was replaced by Zénon Nimubona.
PARENA was accused of having links with Tutsi militias in 2000 and of encouraging violence against the Front for Democracy in Burundi (FRODEBU), a Hutu party.