[1] The party was founded in 1981 as a breakaway from the left-wing Popular Unity Movement (MUP) by members who disagreed with MUP leader Ahmed Ben Salah's policy to boycott elections.

[2] In 1983, the government of Mohammed Mzali legalised two moderate oppositional parties, including the PUP.

The same day, its candidate Mohamed Bouchiha [fr], won 3.8% at the presidential elections.

However, the alliance quickly collapsed when some of the participants were accused of pursuing particular interests rather than unity of the opposition.

After the Tunisian revolution of 2011, the PUP participated in elections for the Constituent Assembly, but failed to win any seats.