Abdoulaye Wade is a Senegalese politician, lawyer, and professor, who served as the President of Senegal from 2000 to 2012. He became the president after several years of bidding for the office before finally getting elected to the post. He easily won the re-election for a second term but had to step down after being defeated in his attempt for a third term. Brilliant from a young age, he won a scholarship to study in France. Upon his return to Senegal he embarked on a career as a professor of law and also became actively involved in politics. He founded the Senegalese Democratic Party (Parti Démocratique Sénégalais; PDS) as an opposition to the ruling Socialist Party (Parti Socialiste; PS) in 1974. Starting from 1978, he made four unsuccessful bids for the presidency before finally winning the election in 2000. His first term as the president was a successful one and he was appreciated for the much-needed reforms he introduced in the nation. Even though he easily won the re-election, his second term was not as successful as the previous one and he lost his bid for a third term. However, even in his defeat he gained acclaim for his commitment to democracy as he stepped down peacefully unlike a few other African leaders who had resorted to violence in an attempt to hold on to power.