Christian Democratic Party (Panama)
Encyclopedia
The Christian Democratic Party (in Spanish
: Partido Demócrata Cristiano, PDC), now People's Party (Partido Popular, PP) is a Panama
nian Christian democratic centre-right political party
, one of Latin America's most conservative and anti-communist Christian Democratic parties.
The ideological foundation of the party is based on the social doctrine of the Catholic Church.
The Christian Democratic Party was created in 1960.
The PDC emerged out of a movement at the National University of Panama
inspired by European Christian Democracy and known from 1957 to 1960 as the National Civic Union (UCN). The PDC's leading figures were middle-class professionals, intellectuals and students, but support also came from the trade union.
The PDC traces its origins to the “First Week of Christian Studies”, which met at Cumbres in March 1957. Those participating in this session and the “Second Week of Christian Studies” in July 1959 included intellectuals, who in one field or another expressed their desire for Social Christian action.
The group that organized these meetings was organized on 12 April 1956, and first called itself Social Democratic Action (Accion Social Democrata, ASD) and its leaders met in 1957 under the name Christian Democratic Movement (Movimiento Democrata Cristiano, MDC).
The Partido Democrata Cristiano was finally launched at a congress early in 1964.
The trade union group known as the Federation of Christian Workers (Federation de Trabajadores Cristianos), established in 1961, was closely aligned with the PDC.
For the 1964 elections, the PDC presented its first presidential candidate, José Antonio Molino, who was supported by Panama's Teachers Union, he received 9,681 votes (02.98%), coming in fourth among seven nominees.
This showing was considered a success for the new party and was enough to assure its registration as a legal party. In the succeeding years the Christian Democrats continued to be a small but well-organized element in Panamanian politics.
In 1968 general election the PDC candidate, Antonio González Revilla, received 11,371 votes (03.55%). In 1964 and 1968 the PDC won one parliamentary seat.
In 1968 the radical wing of the leadership was expelled en masse, as the increasingly right-wing party opted to support the government of Arnulfo Arias
. It was backed by a tiny electorate consisting of urban professionals and a business group led by the Romero family. Arnulfo Arias
chose a PDC as minister of education, but his government lasted only 11 days.
All political parties including the PDC were banned by Omar Torrijos
after the military coup of 1968.
During the period when party politics were effectively banned by the Omar Torrijos
government (1968–1978), the Christian Democrats opposed the military regime and calls for a civilian-ruled democracy.
In 1970s – 1980s, the majority of political observers noted that the PDC was the most organized and cementing force of the opposition.
The PDC was one of the few parties within National Opposition Front (FRENO) (a coalition of eight opposition parties formed in March 1979) that offered a programmatic alternative to military government policy by calling for substantial social reforms and expanded participation in democratic processes.
The PDC was advocate introducing nationalist social reforms to preclude revolutionary action.
Its leader Ricardo Arias Calderón, was the main promoter of the formation of a united opposition against the Democratic Revolutionary Party
(PRD).
The leaders of the Party are constantly coming out with accusations against the government, seeing in its actions "a furthering of communist penetration into Central America."
The PDC re-registered on 28 August 1980.
The PDC won 20.6% of the vote and two seats in the 1980 legislative elections (to 19 of the 56 seats in the newly-formed National Legislative Council, the other 37 being filled by nominees of a non-party National Assembly of Community Representatives established in 1972).
In December 1981, Ricardo Arias Calderón was elected president of the Organization of Christian-Democratic Parties of America.
In 1984 the PDC was part of the Democratic Opposition Alliance (ADO) which supported the presidential candidacy of Arnulfo Arias
of Authentic Panameñista Party (PPA). Ricardo Arias Calderón was a Second Vice-Presidential candidate.
ADO lost the presidential and legislative elections following suspected widespread fraud by the military.
During 1987 the PDC became increasingly involved in confrontations with the government, openly campaigning through strikes (supported mainly by businesses rather than labor unions) and street demonstrations (which were often violently repressed) for the resignation or removal of General Manuel Noriega
. Ricardo Arias Calderón referring to charges against Manuel Noriega
of murder, drug trafficking, corruption and electoral fraud, described him as "virtually a dictator and gangster".
For the 1989 elections, the PDC was the main component of the Democratic Alliance of Civic Opposition (ADOC), with the Guillermo Endara
as the coalition's presidential candidate.
Ricardo Arias Calderón was viewed as a likely successor to Arnulfo Arias
as principal spokesman for the opposition, eventually accepting nomination as ADOC First Vice-Presidential candidate in 1989.
The PDC polled 261,598 votes (40.18%), coming in first among twelve nominees.
After the official ratification of the results following the US military invasion in December 1989, Ricardo Arias Calderón became First Vice-President and Interior and Justice Minister and the PDC the largest party in the Legislative Assembly with 28 of the 67 seats.
Possessing a plurality within the Legislative Assembly, the PDC was estranged from its coalition partners in September 1990, when the latter joined with the opposition Democratic Revolutionary Party
(PRD) to reject its nominees for chamber officials. Despite the rebuff, the party stayed within the ADOC until April 1991, when its ministerial delegation was ousted by President Guillermo Endara
for displaying "disloyalty and arrogance".
Its withdrawal from the ADOC coalition government caused a political crisis. This had followed months of in-fighting during which Ricardo Arias Calderón had publicly described Guillermo Endara
's economic program, which advocated severe austerity measures and the privatization of state enterprises, as "senseless". In succeeding months, the PDC became the leader of the opposition, to such an extent that it was exerting strong influence within such organizations as the Civic Crusade, an organization from which Guillermo Endara
had drawn his strongest support and which called for a plebiscite to decide on the desirability of Guillermo Endara
remaining in office.
In September 1991, the PDC was judged firmly to have secured its political influence on parliamentary committees as a direct result of facilitating the victory of a dissident Authentic Liberal Party (PLA) candidate in the election of a new President of the Legislative Assembly.
In the run up to the 1994 election, Ricardo Arias Calderón resigned as First Vice-President of the Republic in December 1992. In a move that was seen as reflecting a desire to distance himself from President Guillermo Endara
.
In 1994 Eduardo Vallarino, the candidate of PDC, unsuccessfully ran in the presidential elections, obtaining only 25,476 votes (02.39%) and the party managed to gain only one seat in the legislative elections.
For the 1999 elections, the PDC was the main component of the Opposition Action Alliance (AAO), with the PDC's Alberto Vallarino Clement
as the coalition's presidential candidate. He polled 221,459 votes (17.38%) and came fourth (the PDC – 140,824 and 11.05%). The PDC won 5 legislative seats.
On 10 September 2001 the PDC changed its name to People's Party.
In 2004 PDC allied with the New Fatherland (PN) and its candidate Martín Torrijos Espino of Democratic Revolutionary Party
(PRD).
In 2009 PDC allied with the One Country for All (UPPT) and its candidate Balbina Herrera
of Democratic Revolutionary Party
(PRD).
The PDC is a full member of the Christian Democrat International and Christian Democratic Organization of America.
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
: Partido Demócrata Cristiano, PDC), now People's Party (Partido Popular, PP) is a Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
nian Christian democratic centre-right political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
, one of Latin America's most conservative and anti-communist Christian Democratic parties.
The ideological foundation of the party is based on the social doctrine of the Catholic Church.
The Christian Democratic Party was created in 1960.
The PDC emerged out of a movement at the National University of Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
inspired by European Christian Democracy and known from 1957 to 1960 as the National Civic Union (UCN). The PDC's leading figures were middle-class professionals, intellectuals and students, but support also came from the trade union.
The PDC traces its origins to the “First Week of Christian Studies”, which met at Cumbres in March 1957. Those participating in this session and the “Second Week of Christian Studies” in July 1959 included intellectuals, who in one field or another expressed their desire for Social Christian action.
The group that organized these meetings was organized on 12 April 1956, and first called itself Social Democratic Action (Accion Social Democrata, ASD) and its leaders met in 1957 under the name Christian Democratic Movement (Movimiento Democrata Cristiano, MDC).
The Partido Democrata Cristiano was finally launched at a congress early in 1964.
The trade union group known as the Federation of Christian Workers (Federation de Trabajadores Cristianos), established in 1961, was closely aligned with the PDC.
For the 1964 elections, the PDC presented its first presidential candidate, José Antonio Molino, who was supported by Panama's Teachers Union, he received 9,681 votes (02.98%), coming in fourth among seven nominees.
This showing was considered a success for the new party and was enough to assure its registration as a legal party. In the succeeding years the Christian Democrats continued to be a small but well-organized element in Panamanian politics.
In 1968 general election the PDC candidate, Antonio González Revilla, received 11,371 votes (03.55%). In 1964 and 1968 the PDC won one parliamentary seat.
In 1968 the radical wing of the leadership was expelled en masse, as the increasingly right-wing party opted to support the government of Arnulfo Arias
Arnulfo Arias
Dr. Arnulfo Arias Madrid was president of Panama on three occasions: 1940–41, 1949–51, and for two weeks in October 1968.- Origins :...
. It was backed by a tiny electorate consisting of urban professionals and a business group led by the Romero family. Arnulfo Arias
Arnulfo Arias
Dr. Arnulfo Arias Madrid was president of Panama on three occasions: 1940–41, 1949–51, and for two weeks in October 1968.- Origins :...
chose a PDC as minister of education, but his government lasted only 11 days.
All political parties including the PDC were banned by Omar Torrijos
Omar Torrijos
Omar Efraín Torrijos Herrera was the Commander of the Panamanian and National Guard and the de facto leader of Panama from 1968 to 1981...
after the military coup of 1968.
During the period when party politics were effectively banned by the Omar Torrijos
Omar Torrijos
Omar Efraín Torrijos Herrera was the Commander of the Panamanian and National Guard and the de facto leader of Panama from 1968 to 1981...
government (1968–1978), the Christian Democrats opposed the military regime and calls for a civilian-ruled democracy.
In 1970s – 1980s, the majority of political observers noted that the PDC was the most organized and cementing force of the opposition.
The PDC was one of the few parties within National Opposition Front (FRENO) (a coalition of eight opposition parties formed in March 1979) that offered a programmatic alternative to military government policy by calling for substantial social reforms and expanded participation in democratic processes.
The PDC was advocate introducing nationalist social reforms to preclude revolutionary action.
Its leader Ricardo Arias Calderón, was the main promoter of the formation of a united opposition against the Democratic Revolutionary Party
Democratic Revolutionary Party
The Democratic Revolutionary Party is a Panamanian political party. It was founded in 1979 by the General Omar Torrijos, and is generally described as a party of the centre-left of the political spectrum.-History and creation:...
(PRD).
The leaders of the Party are constantly coming out with accusations against the government, seeing in its actions "a furthering of communist penetration into Central America."
The PDC re-registered on 28 August 1980.
The PDC won 20.6% of the vote and two seats in the 1980 legislative elections (to 19 of the 56 seats in the newly-formed National Legislative Council, the other 37 being filled by nominees of a non-party National Assembly of Community Representatives established in 1972).
In December 1981, Ricardo Arias Calderón was elected president of the Organization of Christian-Democratic Parties of America.
In 1984 the PDC was part of the Democratic Opposition Alliance (ADO) which supported the presidential candidacy of Arnulfo Arias
Arnulfo Arias
Dr. Arnulfo Arias Madrid was president of Panama on three occasions: 1940–41, 1949–51, and for two weeks in October 1968.- Origins :...
of Authentic Panameñista Party (PPA). Ricardo Arias Calderón was a Second Vice-Presidential candidate.
ADO lost the presidential and legislative elections following suspected widespread fraud by the military.
During 1987 the PDC became increasingly involved in confrontations with the government, openly campaigning through strikes (supported mainly by businesses rather than labor unions) and street demonstrations (which were often violently repressed) for the resignation or removal of General Manuel Noriega
Manuel Noriega
Manuel Antonio Noriega Moreno is a Panamanian politician and soldier. He was military dictator of Panama from 1983 to 1989.The 1989 invasion of Panama by the United States removed him from power; he was captured, detained as a prisoner of war, and flown to the United States. Noriega was tried on...
. Ricardo Arias Calderón referring to charges against Manuel Noriega
Manuel Noriega
Manuel Antonio Noriega Moreno is a Panamanian politician and soldier. He was military dictator of Panama from 1983 to 1989.The 1989 invasion of Panama by the United States removed him from power; he was captured, detained as a prisoner of war, and flown to the United States. Noriega was tried on...
of murder, drug trafficking, corruption and electoral fraud, described him as "virtually a dictator and gangster".
For the 1989 elections, the PDC was the main component of the Democratic Alliance of Civic Opposition (ADOC), with the Guillermo Endara
Guillermo Endara
Guillermo David Endara Galimany was the President of Panama from 1989 to 1994. He ran for office in 2004 and 2009 but lost to the former President Martin Torrijos and to the incumbent President Ricardo Martinelli....
as the coalition's presidential candidate.
Ricardo Arias Calderón was viewed as a likely successor to Arnulfo Arias
Arnulfo Arias
Dr. Arnulfo Arias Madrid was president of Panama on three occasions: 1940–41, 1949–51, and for two weeks in October 1968.- Origins :...
as principal spokesman for the opposition, eventually accepting nomination as ADOC First Vice-Presidential candidate in 1989.
The PDC polled 261,598 votes (40.18%), coming in first among twelve nominees.
After the official ratification of the results following the US military invasion in December 1989, Ricardo Arias Calderón became First Vice-President and Interior and Justice Minister and the PDC the largest party in the Legislative Assembly with 28 of the 67 seats.
Possessing a plurality within the Legislative Assembly, the PDC was estranged from its coalition partners in September 1990, when the latter joined with the opposition Democratic Revolutionary Party
Democratic Revolutionary Party
The Democratic Revolutionary Party is a Panamanian political party. It was founded in 1979 by the General Omar Torrijos, and is generally described as a party of the centre-left of the political spectrum.-History and creation:...
(PRD) to reject its nominees for chamber officials. Despite the rebuff, the party stayed within the ADOC until April 1991, when its ministerial delegation was ousted by President Guillermo Endara
Guillermo Endara
Guillermo David Endara Galimany was the President of Panama from 1989 to 1994. He ran for office in 2004 and 2009 but lost to the former President Martin Torrijos and to the incumbent President Ricardo Martinelli....
for displaying "disloyalty and arrogance".
Its withdrawal from the ADOC coalition government caused a political crisis. This had followed months of in-fighting during which Ricardo Arias Calderón had publicly described Guillermo Endara
Guillermo Endara
Guillermo David Endara Galimany was the President of Panama from 1989 to 1994. He ran for office in 2004 and 2009 but lost to the former President Martin Torrijos and to the incumbent President Ricardo Martinelli....
's economic program, which advocated severe austerity measures and the privatization of state enterprises, as "senseless". In succeeding months, the PDC became the leader of the opposition, to such an extent that it was exerting strong influence within such organizations as the Civic Crusade, an organization from which Guillermo Endara
Guillermo Endara
Guillermo David Endara Galimany was the President of Panama from 1989 to 1994. He ran for office in 2004 and 2009 but lost to the former President Martin Torrijos and to the incumbent President Ricardo Martinelli....
had drawn his strongest support and which called for a plebiscite to decide on the desirability of Guillermo Endara
Guillermo Endara
Guillermo David Endara Galimany was the President of Panama from 1989 to 1994. He ran for office in 2004 and 2009 but lost to the former President Martin Torrijos and to the incumbent President Ricardo Martinelli....
remaining in office.
In September 1991, the PDC was judged firmly to have secured its political influence on parliamentary committees as a direct result of facilitating the victory of a dissident Authentic Liberal Party (PLA) candidate in the election of a new President of the Legislative Assembly.
In the run up to the 1994 election, Ricardo Arias Calderón resigned as First Vice-President of the Republic in December 1992. In a move that was seen as reflecting a desire to distance himself from President Guillermo Endara
Guillermo Endara
Guillermo David Endara Galimany was the President of Panama from 1989 to 1994. He ran for office in 2004 and 2009 but lost to the former President Martin Torrijos and to the incumbent President Ricardo Martinelli....
.
In 1994 Eduardo Vallarino, the candidate of PDC, unsuccessfully ran in the presidential elections, obtaining only 25,476 votes (02.39%) and the party managed to gain only one seat in the legislative elections.
For the 1999 elections, the PDC was the main component of the Opposition Action Alliance (AAO), with the PDC's Alberto Vallarino Clement
Alberto Vallarino Clement
Alberto Vallarino Clement is a Panamanian, engineer, businessman and politician, who is currently serving as Minister of Economy and Finance of Panama. Vallarino was CEO of Banistmo for over 20 years. He is ran for president in 2009 but lost in the primaries....
as the coalition's presidential candidate. He polled 221,459 votes (17.38%) and came fourth (the PDC – 140,824 and 11.05%). The PDC won 5 legislative seats.
On 10 September 2001 the PDC changed its name to People's Party.
In 2004 PDC allied with the New Fatherland (PN) and its candidate Martín Torrijos Espino of Democratic Revolutionary Party
Democratic Revolutionary Party
The Democratic Revolutionary Party is a Panamanian political party. It was founded in 1979 by the General Omar Torrijos, and is generally described as a party of the centre-left of the political spectrum.-History and creation:...
(PRD).
In 2009 PDC allied with the One Country for All (UPPT) and its candidate Balbina Herrera
Balbina Herrera
Balbina Del Carmen Herrera Araúz is a Panamanian politician and presidential candidate in the Panamanian general election, 2009. On May 3, 2009, she lost the race to the presidency of the Republic of Panama to center-right candidate Ricardo Martinelli....
of Democratic Revolutionary Party
Democratic Revolutionary Party
The Democratic Revolutionary Party is a Panamanian political party. It was founded in 1979 by the General Omar Torrijos, and is generally described as a party of the centre-left of the political spectrum.-History and creation:...
(PRD).
The PDC is a full member of the Christian Democrat International and Christian Democratic Organization of America.