Elected President of Cameroon National Union on the 14 September 1983.
Elected president of the Republic on 14 January 1984, re-elected on 24 April 1988 (first presidential election through direct universal suffrage, with several candidatures in Cameroon).
Elected President of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement( CPDM) after transformation of the CNU into the CPDM on 24 March 1985 in Bamenda.
By promulgating the law on Associations and political parties on 19 December 1990, Mr. Paul Biya restored multipartism in Cameroon (since 1st September 1966, the country had been under a de facto one-party system). Today, nearly 168 political parties have been legalized.
The CPDM gained an absolute majority at the legislative elections of March 1997 and June 2002 and its candidate won the presidential election of October 1997. Regardless to those victories, the president of the Republic chose to form a cross-party government. Three parties are represented in the government: the CPDM, UNDP and UPC. Seven parties are represented at the National Assembly: the CPDM, UNDP, SDF, UPC, UDC, MLJD and MDR. Family Life
Mr. Paul Biya is married to Chantal Pulcherie Biya. He has three children: Frank Biya, Paul Biya Jr and Anastasie Brenda Biya Eyenga. Honorary Distinctions
Mr Paul Biya is a holder of several decorations and honorary distinctions, amongst which are:
Grand Master of the National Orders (Republic of Cameroon)
Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor (French Republic)
Great Commander of the Medal of St-George (UK and Ireland)
Grand Cross, special class (Federal Republic of Germany)
Grand Collier of the Order of Ouissam Mohammadi (Kingdom of Morocco)
Great Commander of the Order of Niger (Federal Republic of Nigeria)
Grand Cross of the Order of Merit (Republic of Senegal)