The party won 13 of 109 seats at the 2002 general election. It became the second largest party in Parliament, but the largest party, the National Alliance Party led by Michael Somare formed the government. The PDM joined the opposition in the National Parliament. Before the 2007 general elections, Morauta lost the leadership of the party and founded his own party, the Papua New Guinea Party, while Wingti became the leader of the PDM again. At the 2007 general elections, the PDM was heavily defeated, winning 5 seats in Parliament. Wingti was among those who lost their seats, and Morauta’s new Papua New Guinea Party became the largest opposition party with 8 seats. The PDM left the opposition and joined Somare’s coalition government.
