Disambiguation - If you are looking for the almost homonymous Italian parliamentary group, see Article 1 - Democratic and Progressive Movement.

Progressive Democrats (Gaelic: Dan Pairtí Daonlathach, PD) were an active political party in Ireland from 1985 to 2009.

The subject was a liberalist inspiration; was a member of the European Party of Liberals, Democrats and Reformers and the Liberal International.

Founded by Desmond O'Malley, former minister for Fianna Faiil, the party gathered around itself FF and Fine Gael's exponents, convinced of the need to ensure a more liberal policy for the country.

The party debuted in the 1987 general election, gaining 11.9% of the votes as the third Irish party.

Progressive Democrats presented themselves at the next electoral rounds of 1989, 1992, 1997, 2002 and 2007, showing a consensus of about 5%.

In 1989 they became part of a government led by Fianna Fàil. In 1992 O'Malley resigned as party leader and was replaced by Mary Harney, originally affiliated to FF. Along with the FF were also the government from 1997 to 2002 to 2006.

The decline has become even more evident in 2007 when the party fell to 2.7% and elected only 2 deputies against the 8 outgoing. Nonetheless, progressive democrats remained with the Fianna Fàil government, although Prime Minister Bertie Ahern (FF) was forced to widen the majority even to the Greens. In November 2008, DPs decided to dissolve the party.

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