UMP was founded from the merger of the Gaullist-conservative Rally for the Republic ( Rassemblement pour la RÃ publique , RPR ) , the conservative-liberal Liberal Democracy ( DÃ mocratie LibÃ rale , DL ) , and a part of the centrist Union for French Democracy ( Union pour la DÃ mocratie FranÃ aise , UDF ) . Many Christian Democrats ( such as Philippe Douste-Blazy and Jacques Barrot ) , the social-liberal Radical Party and the centrist Popular Party for French Democracy ( both associate parties to UDF until 2002 ) joined the party . The UMP was founded as a merger of the Gaullist-conservative Rally for the Republic ( RPR ) , the conservative-liberal Liberal Democracy ( DL ) , a sizeable portion of the centrist Union for French Democracy ( UDF ) , more precisely the UDF 's Christian Democrats ( such as Philippe Douste-Blazy and Jacques Barrot ) , the social-liberal Radical Party and the centrist Popular Party for French Democracy ( both associate parties of the UDF until 2002 ) .