Humanist Democratic Centre
Encyclopedia
The Humanist Democratic Centre is a Francophone
Christian democratic
political party
in Belgium
. The cdH currently participates in the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region
, the Government of the French Community
and the Walloon Government.
(PSC-CVP) into the Dutch-speaking Christian People's Party (CVP) and the French-speaking Christian Social Party (PSC), following the increased linguistic tensions after the crisis at the University of Leuven in 1968.
The PSC performed particularly badly in the 1999 general election
. This was linked to several scandals, such as the escape of Marc Dutroux
and the discovery of dioxine in chickens (the PSC was a coalition partner in the Dehaene government
). The decline in votes was also explained by declining adherence to Catholicism
. The party was confined to opposition
on all levels of government.
The party started a process of internal reform. In 2001 a new charter of principles the "Charter of Democratic Humanism" was adopted and 2002 the party adopted a new constitution and a new name, Humanist Democratic Centre.
In the 2003 general election the party did not perform much better and was still confined to opposition. After the 2004 regional elections
the party returned to power in Brussels, in Walloon Region and the French Community together with the Socialist Party and Ecolo
in Brussels, and with the Socialist Party in Walloon Region and the French Community. The current president of the party is Joëlle Milquet
.
In the 2007 general elections
, the party won 10 out of 150 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 2 out of 40 seats in the Senate
.
In the 2010 general elections
, the party lost 1 seat in the Chamber and kept its 2 seats in the Senate.
inherited notably from christian humanism», combined with a centre-left policy towards the economy, supporting state interventionism and calling for the unity of Belgium.
Francophone
The adjective francophone means French-speaking, typically as primary language, whether referring to individuals, groups, or places. Often, the word is used as a noun to describe a natively French-speaking person....
Christian democratic
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...
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...
in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. The cdH currently participates in the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region
Politics and Government of the Brussels-Capital Region
The government of the Brussels-Capital Region is the political administration of the Brussels region of Belgium. An election is held every five years...
, the Government of the French Community
Government of the French Community
The Cabinet of the French Community of Belgium is the executive branch of the French Community of Belgium, and it sits in Brussels. It consists of a number of ministers chosen by the Parliament of the French Community and is headed by a Minister-President....
and the Walloon Government.
History
The PSC was officially founded in 1972. The foundation was the result of the split of the unitary Christian Social Party–Christian People's PartyChristian Social Party (Belgium, defunct)
The Christian Social Party was a Belgian Catholic political party, which existed from 1945 until 1968.-History:At the end of World War II, on 18–19 August 1945 the Christelijke Volkspartij-Parti Social Chrétien was founded under the presidency of August de Schryver as the successor to the...
(PSC-CVP) into the Dutch-speaking Christian People's Party (CVP) and the French-speaking Christian Social Party (PSC), following the increased linguistic tensions after the crisis at the University of Leuven in 1968.
The PSC performed particularly badly in the 1999 general election
Belgian general election, 1999
The June 13, 1999 Belgian general elections was a Belgian election for the Belgian Chamber of Representatives and Belgian Senate. The federal general elections were held on the same day as the European elections and the regional elections. The Flemish Liberals and Democrats won the elections.The...
. This was linked to several scandals, such as the escape of Marc Dutroux
Marc Dutroux
Marc Dutroux is a Belgian serial killer and child molester, convicted of having kidnapped, tortured and sexually abused six girls during 1995 and 1996, ranging in age from 8 to 19, four of whom he murdered. He was also convicted of having killed a suspected former accomplice, Bernard Weinstein,...
and the discovery of dioxine in chickens (the PSC was a coalition partner in the Dehaene government
Jean-Luc Dehaene
-Early life and political career:He was born in Montpellier, France, when his parents were fleeing German troops. He got into politics through the Algemeen Christelijk Werknemersverbond , a trade union which was closely linked to the Christelijke Volkspartij .In 1981, he became Minister of Social...
). The decline in votes was also explained by declining adherence to Catholicism
Roman Catholicism in Belgium
The Belgian Catholic Church, part of the global Roman Catholic Church, is under the spiritual leadership of the Pope, the curia in Rome and the Conference of Belgian Bishops.-Dioceses:...
. The party was confined to opposition
Opposition (politics)
In politics, the opposition comprises one or more political parties or other organized groups that are opposed to the government , party or group in political control of a city, region, state or country...
on all levels of government.
The party started a process of internal reform. In 2001 a new charter of principles the "Charter of Democratic Humanism" was adopted and 2002 the party adopted a new constitution and a new name, Humanist Democratic Centre.
In the 2003 general election the party did not perform much better and was still confined to opposition. After the 2004 regional elections
Belgian regional elections, 2004
On June 13, 2004, regional elections were held in Belgium, to choose representatives in the regional councils of the Flemish Parliament, the Walloon Parliament, the Brussels Parliament and the German-speaking Community of Belgium...
the party returned to power in Brussels, in Walloon Region and the French Community together with the Socialist Party and Ecolo
Ecolo
Ecolo is a French-speaking Belgian green political party in Wallonia, Brussels and the German-speaking Community of Belgium...
in Brussels, and with the Socialist Party in Walloon Region and the French Community. The current president of the party is Joëlle Milquet
Joëlle Milquet
Joëlle F.G.M. Milquet is a Belgian politician from the Humanist Democratic Centre .-Education:...
.
In the 2007 general elections
Belgian general election, 2007
The 2007 Belgian general election took place on Sunday 10 June 2007. Voters went to the polls in order to elect new members for the Chamber of Representatives and Senate.Eligible voters were Belgian citizens 18 years and older...
, the party won 10 out of 150 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 2 out of 40 seats in the Senate
Belgian Senate
The Belgian Senate is one of the two chambers of the bicameral Federal Parliament of Belgium, the other being the Chamber of Representatives. It is considered to be the "upper house" of the Federal Parliament.-History and future:...
.
In the 2010 general elections
Belgian general election, 2010
General elections were held in Belgium on 13 June 2010. After the fall of the previous government over the withdrawal of Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats from the government the King dissolved the legislature and called new elections...
, the party lost 1 seat in the Chamber and kept its 2 seats in the Senate.
Electoral results
Results for the Chamber of Representatives, in percentages for the Kingdom of Belgium.Ideology
Its ideology is the «democratic humanism, inspired by personalismPersonalism
Personalism is a philosophical school of thought searching to describe the uniqueness of a human person in the world of nature, specifically in relation to animals...
inherited notably from christian humanism», combined with a centre-left policy towards the economy, supporting state interventionism and calling for the unity of Belgium.