The People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) (, Hezb-e dimukratik-e khalq-e Afghanistan, , Da Afghanistan da khalq dimukratik gund) was a socialist party established on 1 January 1965. While a minority, the party helped former prime minister of Afghanistan, Mohammed Daoud Khan, to overthrow his cousin, Mohammed Zahir Shah, and established the Republic of Afghanistan. Daoud would eventually become a strong opponent of the party, firing PDPA politicians from high-ranking jobs in the government. This would lead to uneasy relations with the Soviet Union.