PJD was founded by Abdelkrim al-Khatib, one of the founders of the Popular Movement party, from which he was expelled in the mid-1960s, under the name of "MPDC" (, the "Popular Democratic and Constitutional Movement"). The party was an empty shell for many years, until various members of a clandestine association Chabiba Islamia, who later formed the MUR (, the "Unity and Reform Movement") joined the party, with the authorisation and encouragement of former Interior Minister Driss Basri. It later changed its name to current PJD in 1998.