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Democratic Centre (France)
Encyclopedia
Democratic Centre was a French Christian-Democratic
and centrist party. It existed from 1966 to 1976 when it merged with another party into the Centre of Social Democrats.
after his 1965 presidential campaign
. It came from the merger of the Christian Democratic and centrist Popular Republican Movement
(MRP) and the liberal and conservative National Center of Independents and Peasants (CNIP). Its goal was to incarnate a third way between the left-wing opposition (which was Marxist and anticlerical) and the Gaullist coalition (accused of being Eurosceptic
, nationalist and authoritarian).
Before the 1967 legislative election
, some Christian-Democrats left the party to join the Gaullist movement Union of Democrats for the Fifth Republic. One year later, the CNIP left the Democratic Centre.
In 1969, the party called for a "no" vote at the referendum about regionalization and Senate
reform which caused the resignation of De Gaulle. At the ensuing presidential election
it supported the candidacy of Alain Poher
, chairman of the Senate. He reached the second round but was defeated by Georges Pompidou
, a former Gaullist Prime Minister. After that, some centrists joined the presidential majority and the cabinet of Jacques Chaban-Delmas
, a reforming Gaullist. They founded Centre, Democracy and Progress
(CDP). At the beginning of the 1970s there were therefore two centrist parties: the CDP, a component of the presidential majority, and the Democratic Centre, which remained in opposition.
The Democratic Centre, always led by Jean Lecanuet
, allied with the centre-left Radical Party of Jean-Jacques Servan-Schreiber
in the Reforming Movement
of 1972, in order to propose a third way between the Common Programme of the left and the Gaullist presidential majority. Nevertheless, due to the ballot system in the legislative election (the Two-round system
), it concluded electoral agreements with the presidential majority in a number of constituencies in 1973
. Finally, it supported the winning presidential candidacy of Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
at the 1974 election
and was integrated into the presidential majority.
On 23 May 1976, the Democratic Centre merged with the CDP into the Centre of Social Democrats (CDS). The CDS joined on 1 February 1978 the newly founded alliance Union for French Democracy
of Giscard d'Estaing.
Christian Democracy
Christian democracy is a political ideology that seeks to apply Christian principles to public policy. It emerged in nineteenth-century Europe under the influence of conservatism and Catholic social teaching...
and centrist party. It existed from 1966 to 1976 when it merged with another party into the Centre of Social Democrats.
History
It was founded on 2 February 1966 by Jean LecanuetJean Lecanuet
Jean Adrien François Lecanuet was a French centrist politician. He was born to a family of modest means, and gravitated towards literature during his studies. He received his diploma at the age of 22, becoming the youngest agrégé in France...
after his 1965 presidential campaign
French presidential election, 1965
The 1965 French presidential election was the first presidential election by direct universal suffrage of the Fifth Republic. It was also the first presidential election by direct universal suffrage since the Second Republic in 1848. It was won by incumbent president Charles de Gaulle who resigned...
. It came from the merger of the Christian Democratic and centrist Popular Republican Movement
Popular Republican Movement
The Popular Republican Movement was a French Christian democratic party of the Fourth Republic...
(MRP) and the liberal and conservative National Center of Independents and Peasants (CNIP). Its goal was to incarnate a third way between the left-wing opposition (which was Marxist and anticlerical) and the Gaullist coalition (accused of being Eurosceptic
EuroSceptic
EuroSceptic is the second album of British singer Jack Lucien. It was released in October 2009.Due to being an album influenced by Europop, it features songs with parts in different languages...
, nationalist and authoritarian).
Before the 1967 legislative election
French legislative election, 1967
French legislative elections took place on 5 and 12 March 1967 to elect the 3rd National Assembly of the Fifth Republic.In December 1965, Charles de Gaulle was re-elected President of France in the first Presidential election by universal suffrage. However, contrary to predictions, there had been a...
, some Christian-Democrats left the party to join the Gaullist movement Union of Democrats for the Fifth Republic. One year later, the CNIP left the Democratic Centre.
In 1969, the party called for a "no" vote at the referendum about regionalization and Senate
French Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the Parliament of France, presided over by a president.The Senate enjoys less prominence than the lower house, the directly elected National Assembly; debates in the Senate tend to be less tense and generally enjoy less media coverage.-History:France's first...
reform which caused the resignation of De Gaulle. At the ensuing presidential election
French presidential election, 1969
The 1969 French presidential election took place on 1 June and 15 June 1969. It occurred due to the resignation of President Charles de Gaulle on 28 April 1969. Indeed, De Gaulle had decided to consult the voters by referendum about regionalisation and the reform of the Senate, and he had announced...
it supported the candidacy of Alain Poher
Alain Poher
Alain Émile Louis Marie Poher was a French centrist politician, affiliated first with the Popular Republican Movement and later with the Democratic Centre. He served as a Senator for Val-de-Marne from 1946 to 1995. He was President of the Senate from 3 October 1968 to 1 October 1992 and, in that...
, chairman of the Senate. He reached the second round but was defeated by Georges Pompidou
Georges Pompidou
Georges Jean Raymond Pompidou was a French politician. He was Prime Minister of France from 1962 to 1968, holding the longest tenure in this position, and later President of the French Republic from 1969 until his death in 1974.-Biography:...
, a former Gaullist Prime Minister. After that, some centrists joined the presidential majority and the cabinet of Jacques Chaban-Delmas
Jacques Chaban-Delmas
Jacques Chaban-Delmas was a French Gaullist politician. He served as Prime Minister under Georges Pompidou from 1969 to 1972. In addition, for almost half a century, he was Mayor of Bordeaux and a deputy for the Gironde département....
, a reforming Gaullist. They founded Centre, Democracy and Progress
Centre, Democracy and Progress
Centre, Democracy and Progress was a French centrist political party founded in 1969. It was founded after the 1969 presidential election by centrists from the Democratic Centre who supported Georges Pompidou in the 1969 election and joined the coalition of the cabinet of Prime Minister Jacques...
(CDP). At the beginning of the 1970s there were therefore two centrist parties: the CDP, a component of the presidential majority, and the Democratic Centre, which remained in opposition.
The Democratic Centre, always led by Jean Lecanuet
Jean Lecanuet
Jean Adrien François Lecanuet was a French centrist politician. He was born to a family of modest means, and gravitated towards literature during his studies. He received his diploma at the age of 22, becoming the youngest agrégé in France...
, allied with the centre-left Radical Party of Jean-Jacques Servan-Schreiber
Jean-Jacques Servan-Schreiber
Jean-Jacques Servan-Schreiber, often referred to as JJSS was a French journalist and politician. He co-founded L'Express in 1953 with Françoise Giroud, and then went on to become president of the Radical Party in 1971...
in the Reforming Movement
Reforming Movement
The Reforming Movement was a French centrist political group created in 1972 by the alliance between the Radical Party led by Jean-Jacques Servan-Schreiber and the Christian-democratic Democratic Centre headed by Jean Lecanuet....
of 1972, in order to propose a third way between the Common Programme of the left and the Gaullist presidential majority. Nevertheless, due to the ballot system in the legislative election (the Two-round system
Two-round system
The two-round system is a voting system used to elect a single winner where the voter casts a single vote for their chosen candidate...
), it concluded electoral agreements with the presidential majority in a number of constituencies in 1973
French legislative election, 1973
French legislative elections took place on 4 and 11 March 1973 to elect the 5th National Assembly of the Fifth Republic.In order to end the May 1968 crisis, President Charles de Gaulle dissolved the National Assembly and his party, the Gaullist Party Union of Democrats for the Republic , obtained...
. Finally, it supported the winning presidential candidacy of Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
Valéry Marie René Georges Giscard d'Estaing is a French centre-right politician who was President of the French Republic from 1974 until 1981...
at the 1974 election
French presidential election, 1974
Presidential elections were held in :France in 1974, following the death of President Georges Pompidou. They went to a second round, and were won by Valéry Giscard d'Estaing by a margin of 1.6%...
and was integrated into the presidential majority.
On 23 May 1976, the Democratic Centre merged with the CDP into the Centre of Social Democrats (CDS). The CDS joined on 1 February 1978 the newly founded alliance Union for French Democracy
Union for French Democracy
The Union for French Democracy was a French centrist political party. It was founded in 1978 as an electoral alliance to support President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing in order to counterbalance the Gaullist preponderance over the right. This name was chosen due to the title of Giscard d'Estaing's...
of Giscard d'Estaing.