Union of Christian and Centre Democrats (Italy)
Encyclopedia
The Union of Christian and Centre Democrats (Unione dei Democratici Cristiani e di Centro, UDC) is a Christian-democratic
political party in Italy. It is formally led by Lorenzo Cesa
, although its most popular figure and practical leader is Pier Ferdinando Casini
. The party is the driving force behind the Union of the Centre, and since 2008 the party's official name has been neglected in favour of "Union of the Centre" as the two organisations overlap.
The UDC is a member of the European People's Party
(EPP) and of the Centrist Democrat International
(CDI), of which Casini is currently president. The party, which was part of the Pole
/House of Freedoms
from 1994 through 2008, is currently a aligned with the New Pole for Italy
, therefore is affiliated neither to the centre-right nor the centre-left at the national level. Despite this, UDC takes part with The People of Freedom
, the main party of the Italian centre-right, within several regional, provincial and municipal governments (notably in Lazio, Campania
and Calabria
), but has also recently formed alliances with the centre-left Democratic Party
at the local level.
from 1994 to 2001 and then by Marco Follini
), the United Christian Democrats
(CDU, a 1995 split of the Italian People's Party led by Rocco Buttiglione
) and European Democracy
(DE, launched by Sergio D'Antoni in 2000). Follini and Buttiglione became respectively national secretary and president of the new party.
At the 2004 European Parliament election
UDC had the chance to show its electoral weight for the first time. Winning 5.9% of the vote and returning 5 MEPs
, the result was better than predicted. At the 2001 Italian general election
the three precursors of UDC had scored 5.6% (sum of 3.2%, combined result of CCD and CDU, and 2.4%, result of DE). Since then UDC was the third largest party within the House of Freedoms
, surpassing Lega Nord. Follini became Vice President of the Council of Ministers
in Berlusconi's second cabinet
with the goal of strengthening the government while diminishing the influence of Lega Nord.
At the 2005 regional elections
UDC and the House of Freedoms
faced a severe defeat by winning only 2 regions out of 14. Follini asked Silvio Berlusconi
to resign and form a new government. In the new executive Buttiglione became minister of Culture, while Follini declined the post of Vice President of the Council in order to dedicate himself to the party. On 15 October 2005 Follini suddenly resigned from party secretary and was replaced on 27 October by Lorenzo Cesa
, an ally of Casini.
The party took part to the 2006 general election
with a new logo, characterized by the inclusion of the name of Casini, who also topped party lists in most electoral constituencies. Despite the defeat of the House of Freedoms, UDC improved its electoral performance gaining 6.8% of the vote.
, which was merged into the centre-left Democratic Party
in October 2007. This was the fourth split suffered by UDC in two years after three much bigger scissions led respectively by Sergio D'Antoni, who joined Democracy is Freedom – The Daisy in 2004, Gianfranco Rotondi
, who launched the Christian Democracy for Autonomies in 2005, and Raffaele Lombardo
, who formed the Sicilian
-based Movement for Autonomy later on that year.
After the departure of Follini, however, Casini became highly critical of Berlusconi too and further distanced UDC from him. A fifth major split happened at the end of January 2008 when Bruno Tabacci
and Mario Baccini
left the party because Casini seemed eager to re-join Berlusconi for the upcoming election, after that the Prodi II Cabinet
had not passed through a vote of confidence. Shortly afterwards, when Casini refused to merge his party into Berlusconi's new political movement, The People of Freedom
(PdL), UDC was joined by the White Rose
of Tabacci, Baccini and Savino Pezzotta
, as well as by two leading members of Forza Italia
, Ferdinando Adornato
and Angelo Sanza. On the other side, UDC was left by those who wanted to continue the alliance with Berlusconi: Carlo Giovanardi
and his Liberal Popular
faction joined the PdL, citing that the 72% of UDC voters wanted the party to do so. They were soon followed by many others.
UDC fought under the banner of the Union of the Centre (UdC), that included the White Rose and other smaller groups. Despite having lost many votes to its right, UDC was able to woo some new voters from the centre-left and gained 5.6% of the vote. At the 2009 European Parliament election
UdC won 6.5% of the vote and five of its candidates were elected to the European Parliament
, notably including Magdi Allam
and Ciriaco de Mita
.
At the 2010 regional elections
the UDC/UdC chose to form alliances either with the centre-right or the centre-left (or stand alone) in the different regions, depending on local conditions, losing ground everywhere but in those Southern regions where it was in alliance with the centre-right.
On 15 December 2010 UDC, through UdC, was a founding member of the New Pole for Italy
, composed also of Future and Freedom
and Alliance for Italy
.
in Italy (opposition to abortion
, gay rights and euthanasia
are some of its main concerns) and can be easily connected with the Christian right
, UDC is usually identified with the political centre
in Italy, thanks to its Christian Democratic
roots.
However The Economist
once described it as a right-wing
, sometimes reactionary
party, which "stretches a long way from the centre". Moreover, it wrote that many UDC members are "diehard corporatists who [...] get most of their votes from the south, where many households depend either on welfare or on public-sector employment". Indeed the party is stronger in the South and especially in Sicily
, where public-sector employment is widely spread.
UDC was an independent-minded and often reluctant member of the House of Freedoms
coalition from 2002 to 2008. The party's leading figure, Pier Ferdinando Casini
, is critical of the leadership of Silvio Berlusconi
over the Italian centre-right and presents himself as a moderate alternative to populism
, which, in his view, denotes the alliance between The People of Freedom
(PdL) and Lega Nord. UDC's main goal, similarly to that of the Democratic Movement
in France
, is to form a government beyond the left-right divide. The dream of reassembling the remnants of the old Christian Democracy
(DC) party and to control Italian politics from the centre is a longstanding one. In this respect Casini and his followers are trying to form the nucleus of a third force in Italian politics, hoping to enlist someday centrist members of the Democratic Party
(PD), especially those coming from Democracy is Freedom – The Daisy (DL). They have begun to do so through the New Pole for Italy
, an alliance composed also of splinters from the centre-right (Future and Freedom
) and the centre-left (Alliance for Italy
).
It is difficult to say how much chances of success this "centrist option" has; indeed there are at least three problems with it. First, UDC is a much lighter force compared to Berlusconi's party, which draws much support from former Christian Democratic voters. Second, Italians like confrontational politics based on two alternative coalitions and many would support a two-party system, in place of the typically Italian fragmented political spectrum. Third, it is difficult to unite progressives from the PD with conservative UDC, and history does not always repeat itself: many political scientists think that the return of Christian Democracy is all but likely as political unity of Catholics (the core idea on which DC was based) is not repeatable because it will be anti-historical trying to unite again free-market liberals and economic interventionists, social conservatives and social liberals within a single party.
It is true that DL had many conservative Catholics in its ranks but their position was mostly social-democratic
on other political issues. UDC is likely to attract some of them but until it can draw huge support from PdL voters its chances of growth are low. Although Casini and his followers are keen on presenting themselves as moderates, their staunchly social-conservative stance harm their prospects, as the PdL is popular also among secularised middle-class voters and has much more clout in the country than UDC. Casini knows that and, through the Union of the Centre, the embryo of a future "party of the nation", is trying to open his party to all the "centrists", the "Christian democrats", the "liberals" and the "reformers".
On the other issues, it is relevant to say that UDC is one of the main supporters of nuclear energy
in the Italian political arena.
The three main schisms suffered by the party between 2004 and 2006, Middle-of-the-Road Italy
(IdM), Movement for Autonomy
(MpA) and Christian Democracy for Autonomies (DCA), were led by the most vocal supporters of each of the last three factions mentioned above, respectively Marco Follini, Raffaele Lombardo
and Gianfranco Rotondi
. By 2010 virtually all Giovanardiani and Cuffariani had left the party through the Liberal Populars and the PID.
At the 2008 general election
the party won 9.4% in Sicily
, 8.2% in Calabria
and 7.9% in Apulia
, while only 3.8% in Liguria
, 4.3% in Lombardy
and 5.2% in Piedmont
. In the North the party is better placed in the North-East: 5.6% in Veneto
and 6.0% in Friuli-Venezia Giulia
.
The Christian Democratic Centre (CCD) and the United Christian Democrats
(CDU) formed joint-lists with Forza Italia
respectively in 1994 (general) and 1995 (regional). The results of 1995 (regional) refer to CCD alone, those of 1996 (general) to the CCD-CDU joint-list, those of 1996 (Sicilian regional), 1999 (European) and 2000 (regional) to the combined result of CCD and CDU, those of 2001 (general) to the combined result of the CCD-CDU joint-list and of European Democracy
(DE), which formed a separate list, that of 2001 (Sicilian regional) to the combined results of CCD, CDU and DE.
Since 2004 (European) the results refer to UDC. The 2006 (Sicilian regional) refers to the combined result of UDC (13.0) and of L'Aquilone–Lista del Presidente (5.7%), the personal list of UDC regional leader Salvatore Cuffaro
. The elected members of this list were all UDC members.
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 in Italy. It is formally led by Lorenzo Cesa
Lorenzo Cesa
Lorenzo Cesa is an Italian politician, and was elected to the Italian Chamber of Deputies in the 2006 General election representing the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats...
, although its most popular figure and practical leader is Pier Ferdinando Casini
Pier Ferdinando Casini
Pier Ferdinando Casini is an Italian politician.-Biography:President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies from 2001 to 2006...
. The party is the driving force behind the Union of the Centre, and since 2008 the party's official name has been neglected in favour of "Union of the Centre" as the two organisations overlap.
The UDC is a member of the European People's Party
European People's Party
The European People's Party is a pro-European centre-right European political party. The EPP was founded in 1976 by Christian democratic parties, but later it increased its membership to include conservative parties and parties of other centre-right perspectives.The EPP is the most influential of...
(EPP) and of the Centrist Democrat International
Centrist Democrat International
The Centrist Democrat International was until 2001 the Christian Democrat International and before that the Christian Democrat and People's Parties International...
(CDI), of which Casini is currently president. The party, which was part of the Pole
Pole of Freedoms
The Pole of Freedoms was a centre-right electoral alliance in Italy, launched at the 1994 general election by Silvio Berlusconi.The alliance was composed primarily of Forza Italia and the Lega Nord, but also included Christian Democratic Centre and the Union of the Centre...
/House of Freedoms
House of Freedoms
The House of Freedoms , was a major Italian centre-right political and electoral alliance led by Silvio Berlusconi. It was initially composed of several political parties:*Forza Italia *National Alliance...
from 1994 through 2008, is currently a aligned with the New Pole for Italy
New Pole for Italy
The New Pole for Italy , referred also either as the Third Pole or Pole of the Nation , is a centre-right coalition of parties in Italy....
, therefore is affiliated neither to the centre-right nor the centre-left at the national level. Despite this, UDC takes part with The People of Freedom
The People of Freedom
The People of Freedom is a centre-right political party in Italy. With the Democratic Party, it is one of the two major parties of the current Italian party system....
, the main party of the Italian centre-right, within several regional, provincial and municipal governments (notably in Lazio, Campania
Campania
Campania is a region in southern Italy. The region has a population of around 5.8 million people, making it the second-most-populous region of Italy; its total area of 13,590 km² makes it the most densely populated region in the country...
and Calabria
Calabria
Calabria , in antiquity known as Bruttium, is a region in southern Italy, south of Naples, located at the "toe" of the Italian Peninsula. The capital city of Calabria is Catanzaro....
), but has also recently formed alliances with the centre-left Democratic Party
Democratic Party (Italy)
The Democratic Party is a social-democratic political party in Italy, that is the second-largest in the country. The party is led by Pier Luigi Bersani, who was elected in the 2009 leadership election....
at the local level.
Foundation and early years
The party was founded in 2002 by the merger of three parties: the Christian Democratic Centre (CCD, led by Pier Ferdinando CasiniPier Ferdinando Casini
Pier Ferdinando Casini is an Italian politician.-Biography:President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies from 2001 to 2006...
from 1994 to 2001 and then by Marco Follini
Marco Follini
Marco Follini is an Italian centre-wing politician.Follini was born in Rome. He was National Secretary of the Democrats' Centre Union party until October 15, 2005...
), the United Christian Democrats
United Christian Democrats
The United Christian Democrats was a Christian democratic party in Italy.-History:It began in 1995 by a split of those members of the Italian People's Party who wanted to enter into an alliance with Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia...
(CDU, a 1995 split of the Italian People's Party led by Rocco Buttiglione
Rocco Buttiglione
Rocco Buttiglione is an Italian Christian Democrat politician and an academic.His nomination for a post as European Commissioner with a portfolio that was to include civil liberties, resulted in controversy as some political groups opposed him for his Roman Catholic views on homosexuality, despite...
) and European Democracy
European Democracy
European Democracy was a minor christian-democratic Italian political party.It was founded in 2000 by Sergio D'Antoni , Giulio Andreotti and Ortensio Zecchino, all three spliters from the Italian People's Party...
(DE, launched by Sergio D'Antoni in 2000). Follini and Buttiglione became respectively national secretary and president of the new party.
At the 2004 European Parliament election
European Parliament election, 2004 (Italy)
Elections to the European Parliament were held in Italy on 12 and 13 June 2004. Italy's highly fragmented party system made it hard to identify an overall trend, but the results were generally seen as a defeat for Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and a victory for the centre-left opposition...
UDC had the chance to show its electoral weight for the first time. Winning 5.9% of the vote and returning 5 MEPs
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
, the result was better than predicted. At the 2001 Italian general election
Italian general election, 2001
A national general election was held in Italy on May 13, 2001 to elect members of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate of the Republic. The 14th Parliament of the Italian republic was chosen....
the three precursors of UDC had scored 5.6% (sum of 3.2%, combined result of CCD and CDU, and 2.4%, result of DE). Since then UDC was the third largest party within the House of Freedoms
House of Freedoms
The House of Freedoms , was a major Italian centre-right political and electoral alliance led by Silvio Berlusconi. It was initially composed of several political parties:*Forza Italia *National Alliance...
, surpassing Lega Nord. Follini became Vice President of the Council of Ministers
President of the Council of Ministers
The official title President of the Council of Ministers, or Chairman of the Council of Ministers is used to describe the head of government of the states of Italy and Poland, and formerly in the Soviet Union, Portugal, France , Spain , Brazil , and Luxembourg...
in Berlusconi's second cabinet
Berlusconi II Cabinet
The Berlusconi II Cabinet was the 57th cabinet of the Italian Republic, and the first cabinet of the XIV Legislature. It took office following the 2001 elections, and held office from 11 June 2001 until 23 April 2005, a total of 1,412 days, or 3 years, 10 months and 12 days...
with the goal of strengthening the government while diminishing the influence of Lega Nord.
At the 2005 regional elections
Italian regional elections, 2005
The Italian regional elections of 3–4 April 2005 were a major victory for the centre-left The Union coalition, led by Romano Prodi. The centre-right coalition, governing in the national government, was defeated in all the regions it held, except for its strongholds in Lombardy and Veneto, whose...
UDC and the House of Freedoms
House of Freedoms
The House of Freedoms , was a major Italian centre-right political and electoral alliance led by Silvio Berlusconi. It was initially composed of several political parties:*Forza Italia *National Alliance...
faced a severe defeat by winning only 2 regions out of 14. Follini asked Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi , also known as Il Cavaliere – from knighthood to the Order of Merit for Labour which he received in 1977 – is an Italian politician and businessman who served three terms as Prime Minister of Italy, from 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006, and 2008 to 2011. Berlusconi is also the...
to resign and form a new government. In the new executive Buttiglione became minister of Culture, while Follini declined the post of Vice President of the Council in order to dedicate himself to the party. On 15 October 2005 Follini suddenly resigned from party secretary and was replaced on 27 October by Lorenzo Cesa
Lorenzo Cesa
Lorenzo Cesa is an Italian politician, and was elected to the Italian Chamber of Deputies in the 2006 General election representing the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats...
, an ally of Casini.
The party took part to the 2006 general election
Italian general election, 2006
In the Italian general election, 2006 for the renewal of the two Chambers of the Parliament of Italy held on April 9 and April 10, 2006 the incumbent prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, leader of the center-right House of Freedoms, was narrowly defeated by Romano Prodi, leader of the center-left The...
with a new logo, characterized by the inclusion of the name of Casini, who also topped party lists in most electoral constituencies. Despite the defeat of the House of Freedoms, UDC improved its electoral performance gaining 6.8% of the vote.
From Berlusconi to the "centre"
In October 2006 Follini, a harsh critic of Berlusconi, finally left the party to form a new grouping, called Middle-of-the-Road ItalyMiddle-of-the-Road Italy
Middle-of-the-Road Italy was an Italian centrist political grouping founded in 2006 by Marco Follini, Senate member and former leader of the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats , and Riccardo Conti, member of the Chamber of Deputies...
, which was merged into the centre-left Democratic Party
Democratic Party (Italy)
The Democratic Party is a social-democratic political party in Italy, that is the second-largest in the country. The party is led by Pier Luigi Bersani, who was elected in the 2009 leadership election....
in October 2007. This was the fourth split suffered by UDC in two years after three much bigger scissions led respectively by Sergio D'Antoni, who joined Democracy is Freedom – The Daisy in 2004, Gianfranco Rotondi
Gianfranco Rotondi
Gianfranco Rotondi is an Italian politician, and the current leader of the Christian Democracy for Autonomies since June 2005.- Biography :Rotondi was born in Avellino, Campania....
, who launched the Christian Democracy for Autonomies in 2005, and Raffaele Lombardo
Raffaele Lombardo
Raffaele Lombardo is an Italian politician, President of Sicily and former Member of the European Parliament for Islands with the Movement for Autonomies and has sat on the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs.He is a substitute for the Committee on the...
, who formed the Sicilian
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
-based Movement for Autonomy later on that year.
After the departure of Follini, however, Casini became highly critical of Berlusconi too and further distanced UDC from him. A fifth major split happened at the end of January 2008 when Bruno Tabacci
Bruno Tabacci
Bruno Tabacci is an Italian politician, member of the Chamber of Deputies and Secretary of the White Rose party. In November 2009 he was one of the founding members of the new Alliance for Italy party.-Career:...
and Mario Baccini
Mario Baccini
Mario Baccini is an Italian politician, former member of the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats and promoter of the White Rose.He started his political activity as town councilor in Rome, for the Christian Democracy...
left the party because Casini seemed eager to re-join Berlusconi for the upcoming election, after that the Prodi II Cabinet
Prodi II Cabinet
The Prodi II Cabinet was the cabinet of the government of Italy from 17 May 2006 to 8 May 2008, a total of 722 days, or 1 year, 11 months and 21 days...
had not passed through a vote of confidence. Shortly afterwards, when Casini refused to merge his party into Berlusconi's new political movement, The People of Freedom
The People of Freedom
The People of Freedom is a centre-right political party in Italy. With the Democratic Party, it is one of the two major parties of the current Italian party system....
(PdL), UDC was joined by the White Rose
White Rose (Italy)
The White Rose , whose official name is Popular Civic Federative Movement , is a Christian-democratic and centrist political party in Italy.-History:...
of Tabacci, Baccini and Savino Pezzotta
Savino Pezzotta
Savino Pezzotta is an Italian trade unionist and politician, and the president of the White Rose party.-Trade unionist:Pezzotta was a textile worker since 1959...
, as well as by two leading members of Forza Italia
Forza Italia
Forza Italia was a liberal-conservative, Christian democratic, and liberal political party in Italy, with a large social democratic minority, that was led by Silvio Berlusconi, four times Prime Minister of Italy....
, Ferdinando Adornato
Ferdinando Adornato
Ferdinando Adornato is an Italian politician. He is a member of the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats .-Life:He graduated with a degree in philosophy...
and Angelo Sanza. On the other side, UDC was left by those who wanted to continue the alliance with Berlusconi: Carlo Giovanardi
Carlo Giovanardi
Carlo Amedeo Giovanardi is an Italian politician and member of the Parliament..-Political career:He graduated in jurisprudence, and did his military service in the Carabinieri...
and his Liberal Popular
Liberal Populars
The Liberal Populars was a Christian-democratic Italian political party that is currently a faction within the larger The People of Freedom .-History:...
faction joined the PdL, citing that the 72% of UDC voters wanted the party to do so. They were soon followed by many others.
Union of the Centre
At the 2008 general electionItalian general election, 2008
A snap general election was held in Italy on 13 April and 14 April 2008. The election came after President Giorgio Napolitano dissolved parliament on 6 February 2008 following the defeat of the government of Prime Minister Romano Prodi in a January 2008 Senate vote, and the unsuccessful tentative...
UDC fought under the banner of the Union of the Centre (UdC), that included the White Rose and other smaller groups. Despite having lost many votes to its right, UDC was able to woo some new voters from the centre-left and gained 5.6% of the vote. At the 2009 European Parliament election
European Parliament election, 2009 (Italy)
European elections to elect 72 members of the European Parliament representing Italy were held on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 June 2009, as decided by the Italian government on December 18, 2008...
UdC won 6.5% of the vote and five of its candidates were elected to the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
, notably including Magdi Allam
Magdi Allam
Magdi Cristiano Allam , is an Egyptian-born Italian journalist and political leader, noted for his criticism of Islamic Extremism, his defence of Judeo-Christian roots of Europe and the West, and his articles on the relations between Western culture and the Islamic world...
and Ciriaco de Mita
Ciriaco de Mita
Ciriaco Luigi de Mita is an Italian politician. He served as the 47th Prime Minister of Italy from 1988 to 1989 and is currently Member of the European Parliament.-Biography:De Mita was born in Nusco, in the Avellinese hinterland....
.
At the 2010 regional elections
Italian regional elections, 2010
A big round of regional elections in Italy took place on 28–29 March in 13 regions out of 20, including nine of the ten largest ones: Lombardy, Campania, Veneto, Lazio, Piedmont, Emilia-Romagna, Apulia, Tuscany and Calabria...
the UDC/UdC chose to form alliances either with the centre-right or the centre-left (or stand alone) in the different regions, depending on local conditions, losing ground everywhere but in those Southern regions where it was in alliance with the centre-right.
On 15 December 2010 UDC, through UdC, was a founding member of the New Pole for Italy
New Pole for Italy
The New Pole for Italy , referred also either as the Third Pole or Pole of the Nation , is a centre-right coalition of parties in Italy....
, composed also of Future and Freedom
Future and Freedom
Future and Freedom , whose complete name is Future and Freedom for Italy is a centre-right political party in Italy....
and Alliance for Italy
Alliance for Italy
Alliance for Italy is a centrist political party in Italy.The party, which is described in its manifesto as "democratic, liberal, popular" as opposed both to "right-wing populism" and the "social-democratic left, an experience with high and memorable value, yet by now run out", was launched on 11...
.
Ideology
Although it is the most vocal supporter of social conservatismSocial conservatism
Social Conservatism is primarily a political, and usually morally influenced, ideology that focuses on the preservation of what are seen as traditional values. Social conservatism is a form of authoritarianism often associated with the position that the federal government should have a greater role...
in Italy (opposition to abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
, gay rights and euthanasia
Euthanasia
Euthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering....
are some of its main concerns) and can be easily connected with the Christian right
Christian right
Christian right is a term used predominantly in the United States to describe "right-wing" Christian political groups that are characterized by their strong support of socially conservative policies...
, UDC is usually identified with the political centre
Centrism
In politics, centrism is the ideal or the practice of promoting policies that lie different from the standard political left and political right. Most commonly, this is visualized as part of the one-dimensional political spectrum of left-right politics, with centrism landing in the middle between...
in Italy, thanks to its Christian Democratic
Christian Democracy (Italy)
Christian Democracy was a Christian democratic party in Italy. It was founded in 1943 as the ideological successor of the historical Italian People's Party, which had the same symbol, a crossed shield ....
roots.
However The Economist
The Economist
The Economist is an English-language weekly news and international affairs publication owned by The Economist Newspaper Ltd. and edited in offices in the City of Westminster, London, England. Continuous publication began under founder James Wilson in September 1843...
once described it as a right-wing
Right-wing politics
In politics, Right, right-wing and rightist generally refer to support for a hierarchical society justified on the basis of an appeal to natural law or tradition. To varying degrees, the Right rejects the egalitarian objectives of left-wing politics, claiming that the imposition of equality is...
, sometimes reactionary
Reactionary
The term reactionary refers to viewpoints that seek to return to a previous state in a society. The term is meant to describe one end of a political spectrum whose opposite pole is "radical". While it has not been generally considered a term of praise it has been adopted as a self-description by...
party, which "stretches a long way from the centre". Moreover, it wrote that many UDC members are "diehard corporatists who [...] get most of their votes from the south, where many households depend either on welfare or on public-sector employment". Indeed the party is stronger in the South and especially in Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, where public-sector employment is widely spread.
UDC was an independent-minded and often reluctant member of the House of Freedoms
House of Freedoms
The House of Freedoms , was a major Italian centre-right political and electoral alliance led by Silvio Berlusconi. It was initially composed of several political parties:*Forza Italia *National Alliance...
coalition from 2002 to 2008. The party's leading figure, Pier Ferdinando Casini
Pier Ferdinando Casini
Pier Ferdinando Casini is an Italian politician.-Biography:President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies from 2001 to 2006...
, is critical of the leadership of Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi , also known as Il Cavaliere – from knighthood to the Order of Merit for Labour which he received in 1977 – is an Italian politician and businessman who served three terms as Prime Minister of Italy, from 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006, and 2008 to 2011. Berlusconi is also the...
over the Italian centre-right and presents himself as a moderate alternative to populism
Populism
Populism can be defined as an ideology, political philosophy, or type of discourse. Generally, a common theme compares "the people" against "the elite", and urges social and political system changes. It can also be defined as a rhetorical style employed by members of various political or social...
, which, in his view, denotes the alliance between The People of Freedom
The People of Freedom
The People of Freedom is a centre-right political party in Italy. With the Democratic Party, it is one of the two major parties of the current Italian party system....
(PdL) and Lega Nord. UDC's main goal, similarly to that of the Democratic Movement
Democratic Movement (France)
The Democratic Movement , MoDem) is a centrist, social liberal and pro-European French political party that was founded by centrist politician François Bayrou to succeed his Union for French Democracy and to contest the 2007 legislative election, after his strong showing in the 2007 presidential...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, is to form a government beyond the left-right divide. The dream of reassembling the remnants of the old Christian Democracy
Christian Democracy (Italy)
Christian Democracy was a Christian democratic party in Italy. It was founded in 1943 as the ideological successor of the historical Italian People's Party, which had the same symbol, a crossed shield ....
(DC) party and to control Italian politics from the centre is a longstanding one. In this respect Casini and his followers are trying to form the nucleus of a third force in Italian politics, hoping to enlist someday centrist members of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (Italy)
The Democratic Party is a social-democratic political party in Italy, that is the second-largest in the country. The party is led by Pier Luigi Bersani, who was elected in the 2009 leadership election....
(PD), especially those coming from Democracy is Freedom – The Daisy (DL). They have begun to do so through the New Pole for Italy
New Pole for Italy
The New Pole for Italy , referred also either as the Third Pole or Pole of the Nation , is a centre-right coalition of parties in Italy....
, an alliance composed also of splinters from the centre-right (Future and Freedom
Future and Freedom
Future and Freedom , whose complete name is Future and Freedom for Italy is a centre-right political party in Italy....
) and the centre-left (Alliance for Italy
Alliance for Italy
Alliance for Italy is a centrist political party in Italy.The party, which is described in its manifesto as "democratic, liberal, popular" as opposed both to "right-wing populism" and the "social-democratic left, an experience with high and memorable value, yet by now run out", was launched on 11...
).
It is difficult to say how much chances of success this "centrist option" has; indeed there are at least three problems with it. First, UDC is a much lighter force compared to Berlusconi's party, which draws much support from former Christian Democratic voters. Second, Italians like confrontational politics based on two alternative coalitions and many would support a two-party system, in place of the typically Italian fragmented political spectrum. Third, it is difficult to unite progressives from the PD with conservative UDC, and history does not always repeat itself: many political scientists think that the return of Christian Democracy is all but likely as political unity of Catholics (the core idea on which DC was based) is not repeatable because it will be anti-historical trying to unite again free-market liberals and economic interventionists, social conservatives and social liberals within a single party.
It is true that DL had many conservative Catholics in its ranks but their position was mostly social-democratic
Social democracy
Social democracy is a political ideology of the center-left on the political spectrum. Social democracy is officially a form of evolutionary reformist socialism. It supports class collaboration as the course to achieve socialism...
on other political issues. UDC is likely to attract some of them but until it can draw huge support from PdL voters its chances of growth are low. Although Casini and his followers are keen on presenting themselves as moderates, their staunchly social-conservative stance harm their prospects, as the PdL is popular also among secularised middle-class voters and has much more clout in the country than UDC. Casini knows that and, through the Union of the Centre, the embryo of a future "party of the nation", is trying to open his party to all the "centrists", the "Christian democrats", the "liberals" and the "reformers".
On the other issues, it is relevant to say that UDC is one of the main supporters of nuclear energy
Nuclear power
Nuclear power is the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity. Nuclear power plants provide about 6% of the world's energy and 13–14% of the world's electricity, with the U.S., France, and Japan together accounting for about 50% of nuclear generated electricity...
in the Italian political arena.
Factions
At the last national congress in 2007 there were basically four factions within the party.- Casiniani. Led by Pier Ferdinando CasiniPier Ferdinando CasiniPier Ferdinando Casini is an Italian politician.-Biography:President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies from 2001 to 2006...
, Lorenzo CesaLorenzo CesaLorenzo Cesa is an Italian politician, and was elected to the Italian Chamber of Deputies in the 2006 General election representing the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats...
and Rocco ButtiglioneRocco ButtiglioneRocco Buttiglione is an Italian Christian Democrat politician and an academic.His nomination for a post as European Commissioner with a portfolio that was to include civil liberties, resulted in controversy as some political groups opposed him for his Roman Catholic views on homosexuality, despite...
, the faction included also Mario Tassone (co-leader with Buttiglione of a sub-group composed of former members of the CDUUnited Christian DemocratsThe United Christian Democrats was a Christian democratic party in Italy.-History:It began in 1995 by a split of those members of the Italian People's Party who wanted to enter into an alliance with Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia...
, which controlled more than 15% of party delegates), Michele Vietti, Luca Volontè, Francesco D'Onofrio, Maurizio Ronconi, Francesco Bosi and Antonio De PoliAntonio De PoliAntonio De Poli is an Italian politician and former Member of the European Parliament for North-East with the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats, part of the European People's Party...
, and gained the support of at least 45% of party members. - Tabaccini. This group, which had the support of the 30% of party members, was basically the left-wing of the party, including leading politicians such as Bruno TabacciBruno TabacciBruno Tabacci is an Italian politician, member of the Chamber of Deputies and Secretary of the White Rose party. In November 2009 he was one of the founding members of the new Alliance for Italy party.-Career:...
, Mario BacciniMario BacciniMario Baccini is an Italian politician, former member of the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats and promoter of the White Rose.He started his political activity as town councilor in Rome, for the Christian Democracy...
and Armando DionisiArmando DionisiArmando Dionisi is an Italian politician, and was elected to the Italian Chamber of Deputies in the 2006 General election....
, who were formerly close allies of Marco FolliniMarco FolliniMarco Follini is an Italian centre-wing politician.Follini was born in Rome. He was National Secretary of the Democrats' Centre Union party until October 15, 2005...
. They proposed to start a co-operation with the Democratic PartyDemocratic Party (Italy)The Democratic Party is a social-democratic political party in Italy, that is the second-largest in the country. The party is led by Pier Luigi Bersani, who was elected in the 2009 leadership election....
(PD) or the formation of a centrist party open to figures like Luca Cordero di Montezemolo and Mario MontiMario MontiMario Monti is an Italian economist and academic who is Prime Minister of Italy, as well as Minister of Economy and Finance, since November 2011. Monti served as a European Commissioner from 1995 to 2004, with responsibility for the Internal Market, Services, Customs and Taxation from 1995 to 1999...
. - Cuffariani. This third group consisted in the Southern faction of Salvatore CuffaroSalvatore CuffaroSalvatore "Totò" Cuffaro is an Italian politician, former President of Sicily, currently serving a 7 years sentence for aiding the Mafia...
, former President of SicilySicilySicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
and was somewhat critical of the centralist-styled leadership of the party. This group, which included Calogero Mannino, Francesco Saverio Romano, Giuseppe Naro and Giuseppe Drago, held the 10% of the party delegates and supported the Casini-Cesa line, although its members had been often friendlier to Berlusconi. In September 2010 most Cuffariani, led by Romano, left UDC to form The Populars of Italy Tomorrow (PID) and support the Berlusconi IV CabinetBerlusconi IV CabinetBerlusconi IV Cabinet has been the cabinet of the government of Italy from 8 May 2008 to 16 November 2011.As of July 2011, it was composed of 24 ministers, 4 deputy ministers and 39 under-secretaries, for a total of 67 members.-Sources:*...
. - Giovanardiani. It was the group led by Carlo GiovanardiCarlo GiovanardiCarlo Amedeo Giovanardi is an Italian politician and member of the Parliament..-Political career:He graduated in jurisprudence, and did his military service in the Carabinieri...
and Emerenzio Barbieri, who wanted closer ties with Forza ItaliaForza ItaliaForza Italia was a liberal-conservative, Christian democratic, and liberal political party in Italy, with a large social democratic minority, that was led by Silvio Berlusconi, four times Prime Minister of Italy....
and the other parties of the House of FreedomsHouse of FreedomsThe House of Freedoms , was a major Italian centre-right political and electoral alliance led by Silvio Berlusconi. It was initially composed of several political parties:*Forza Italia *National Alliance...
coalition, including Lega Nord. At the congress the bid of Giovanardi for the leadership was supported by the 13.8% of delegates. Before leaving UDC in February 2008 in order to join the PdL, Giovanardi and Barbieri organized their faction as Liberal PopularsLiberal PopularsThe Liberal Populars was a Christian-democratic Italian political party that is currently a faction within the larger The People of Freedom .-History:...
.
The three main schisms suffered by the party between 2004 and 2006, Middle-of-the-Road Italy
Middle-of-the-Road Italy
Middle-of-the-Road Italy was an Italian centrist political grouping founded in 2006 by Marco Follini, Senate member and former leader of the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats , and Riccardo Conti, member of the Chamber of Deputies...
(IdM), Movement for Autonomy
Movement for Autonomy
The Movement for Autonomies is a regionalist Christian democratic political party in Italy. It demands economic development and greater autonomy for Sicily, mainly, and for other regions of Southern Italy...
(MpA) and Christian Democracy for Autonomies (DCA), were led by the most vocal supporters of each of the last three factions mentioned above, respectively Marco Follini, Raffaele Lombardo
Raffaele Lombardo
Raffaele Lombardo is an Italian politician, President of Sicily and former Member of the European Parliament for Islands with the Movement for Autonomies and has sat on the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs.He is a substitute for the Committee on the...
and Gianfranco Rotondi
Gianfranco Rotondi
Gianfranco Rotondi is an Italian politician, and the current leader of the Christian Democracy for Autonomies since June 2005.- Biography :Rotondi was born in Avellino, Campania....
. By 2010 virtually all Giovanardiani and Cuffariani had left the party through the Liberal Populars and the PID.
Popular support
UDC is historically stronger in the South than in other part of the country.At the 2008 general election
Italian general election, 2008
A snap general election was held in Italy on 13 April and 14 April 2008. The election came after President Giorgio Napolitano dissolved parliament on 6 February 2008 following the defeat of the government of Prime Minister Romano Prodi in a January 2008 Senate vote, and the unsuccessful tentative...
the party won 9.4% in Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, 8.2% in Calabria
Calabria
Calabria , in antiquity known as Bruttium, is a region in southern Italy, south of Naples, located at the "toe" of the Italian Peninsula. The capital city of Calabria is Catanzaro....
and 7.9% in Apulia
Apulia
Apulia is a region in Southern Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea in the east, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, and the Strait of Òtranto and Gulf of Taranto in the south. Its most southern portion, known as Salento peninsula, forms a high heel on the "boot" of Italy. The region comprises , and...
, while only 3.8% in Liguria
Liguria
Liguria is a coastal region of north-western Italy, the third smallest of the Italian regions. Its capital is Genoa. It is a popular region with tourists for its beautiful beaches, picturesque little towns, and good food.-Geography:...
, 4.3% in Lombardy
Lombardy
Lombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...
and 5.2% in Piedmont
Piedmont
Piedmont is one of the 20 regions of Italy. It has an area of 25,402 square kilometres and a population of about 4.4 million. The capital of Piedmont is Turin. The main local language is Piedmontese. Occitan is also spoken by a minority in the Occitan Valleys situated in the Provinces of...
. In the North the party is better placed in the North-East: 5.6% in Veneto
Veneto
Veneto is one of the 20 regions of Italy. Its population is about 5 million, ranking 5th in Italy.Veneto had been for more than a millennium an independent state, the Republic of Venice, until it was eventually annexed by Italy in 1866 after brief Austrian and French rule...
and 6.0% in Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Friuli–Venezia Giulia is one of the twenty regions of Italy, and one of five autonomous regions with special statute. The capital is Trieste. It has an area of 7,858 km² and about 1.2 million inhabitants. A natural opening to the sea for many Central European countries, the region is...
.
Electoral results
The electoral results of UDC in the 10 most populated Regions of Italy are shown in the table below. As UDC was founded in 2002, the electoral results from 1994 to 2001 refer to the combined result of the precursor parties.The Christian Democratic Centre (CCD) and the United Christian Democrats
United Christian Democrats
The United Christian Democrats was a Christian democratic party in Italy.-History:It began in 1995 by a split of those members of the Italian People's Party who wanted to enter into an alliance with Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia...
(CDU) formed joint-lists with Forza Italia
Forza Italia
Forza Italia was a liberal-conservative, Christian democratic, and liberal political party in Italy, with a large social democratic minority, that was led by Silvio Berlusconi, four times Prime Minister of Italy....
respectively in 1994 (general) and 1995 (regional). The results of 1995 (regional) refer to CCD alone, those of 1996 (general) to the CCD-CDU joint-list, those of 1996 (Sicilian regional), 1999 (European) and 2000 (regional) to the combined result of CCD and CDU, those of 2001 (general) to the combined result of the CCD-CDU joint-list and of European Democracy
European Democracy
European Democracy was a minor christian-democratic Italian political party.It was founded in 2000 by Sergio D'Antoni , Giulio Andreotti and Ortensio Zecchino, all three spliters from the Italian People's Party...
(DE), which formed a separate list, that of 2001 (Sicilian regional) to the combined results of CCD, CDU and DE.
Since 2004 (European) the results refer to UDC. The 2006 (Sicilian regional) refers to the combined result of UDC (13.0) and of L'Aquilone–Lista del Presidente (5.7%), the personal list of UDC regional leader Salvatore Cuffaro
Salvatore Cuffaro
Salvatore "Totò" Cuffaro is an Italian politician, former President of Sicily, currently serving a 7 years sentence for aiding the Mafia...
. The elected members of this list were all UDC members.
| 1994 general | 1995 regional | 1996 general | 1999 European | 2000 regional | 2001 general | 2004 European | 2005 regional | 2006 general | 2008 general | 2009 European | 2010 regional | |
| Piedmont | with FI Forza Italia Forza Italia was a liberal-conservative, Christian democratic, and liberal political party in Italy, with a large social democratic minority, that was led by Silvio Berlusconi, four times Prime Minister of Italy.... |
3.0 | 4.4 | 3.3 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 5.0 | 4.6 | 6.2 | 5.2 | 6.1 | 3.9 |
| Lombardy | with FI | 2.2 | 4.6 | 3.5 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 5.9 | 4.3 | 5.0 | 3.8 |
| Veneto | with FI | 3.6 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 6.8 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 6.4 | 7.8 | 5.6 | 6.4 | 4.9 |
| Emilia-Romagna | with FI | 4.8 | 4.8 | 2.7 | 3.7 | 3.4 | 2.8 | 3.9 | 5.8 | 4.3 | 4.7 | 3.8 |
| Tuscany | with FI | 2.5 | 4.8 | 3.2 | 4.2 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.7 | 5.9 | 4.2 | 4.6 | 4.8 |
| Lazio | with FI | 4.2 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 6.7 | 4.8 | 7.1 | 7.8 | 6.9 | 4.8 | 5.5 | 6.1 |
| Campania | with FI | 9.7 | 8.0 | 6.8 | 8.5 | 7.5 | 7.0 | 6.7 | 6.8 | 6.5 | 8.7 | 9.4 |
| Apulia | with FI | 5.6 | 7.6 | 6.0 | 6.2 | 6.8 | 8.1 | 7.8 | 7.8 | 7.9 | 9.1 | 6.5 |
| Calabria | with FI | 9.0 | 9.0 | 9.4 | 13.3 | 9.5 | 9.6 | 10.4 | 7.7 | 8.2 | 9.3 | 9.4 |
| Sicily | with FI | 19.0 (1996) | 8.1 | 7.9 | 24.3 (2001) | 14.4 | 14.0 | 18.7 (2006) | 10.0 | 9.4 | 11.9 | 12.5 (2008) |
| ITALY | - | - | 5.8 | 4.8 | - | 5.6 | 5.9 | - | 6.8 | 5.6 | 6.5 | - |
Leadership
- Secretary: Marco FolliniMarco FolliniMarco Follini is an Italian centre-wing politician.Follini was born in Rome. He was National Secretary of the Democrats' Centre Union party until October 15, 2005...
(2002–2005), Lorenzo CesaLorenzo CesaLorenzo Cesa is an Italian politician, and was elected to the Italian Chamber of Deputies in the 2006 General election representing the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats...
(2005–present)- Deputy Secretary: Sergio D'Antoni (2002–2004), Mario Tassone (2004–present), Erminia Mazzoni (2005–2007), Salvatore CuffaroSalvatore CuffaroSalvatore "Totò" Cuffaro is an Italian politician, former President of Sicily, currently serving a 7 years sentence for aiding the Mafia...
(2005–2010), Armando DionisiArmando DionisiArmando Dionisi is an Italian politician, and was elected to the Italian Chamber of Deputies in the 2006 General election....
(2007–2008), Michele Vietti (2007–2010) - Head of Political Secretariat: Lorenzo CesaLorenzo CesaLorenzo Cesa is an Italian politician, and was elected to the Italian Chamber of Deputies in the 2006 General election representing the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats...
(2002–2005), Armando DionisiArmando DionisiArmando Dionisi is an Italian politician, and was elected to the Italian Chamber of Deputies in the 2006 General election....
(2005–2007), Antonio De PoliAntonio De PoliAntonio De Poli is an Italian politician and former Member of the European Parliament for North-East with the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats, part of the European People's Party...
(2007–present) - Spokesperson: Michele Vietti (2006–2007), Francesco Pionati (2007–2008), Antonio De PoliAntonio De PoliAntonio De Poli is an Italian politician and former Member of the European Parliament for North-East with the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats, part of the European People's Party...
(2008–present)
- Deputy Secretary: Sergio D'Antoni (2002–2004), Mario Tassone (2004–present), Erminia Mazzoni (2005–2007), Salvatore Cuffaro
- President: Rocco ButtiglioneRocco ButtiglioneRocco Buttiglione is an Italian Christian Democrat politician and an academic.His nomination for a post as European Commissioner with a portfolio that was to include civil liberties, resulted in controversy as some political groups opposed him for his Roman Catholic views on homosexuality, despite...
(2002–present)
- Party Leader in the Chamber of DeputiesItalian Chamber of DeputiesThe Italian Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of the Parliament of Italy. It has 630 seats, a plurality of which is controlled presently by liberal-conservative party People of Freedom. Twelve deputies represent Italian citizens outside of Italy. Deputies meet in the Palazzo Montecitorio. A...
: Luca Volontè (2001–2008), Pier Ferdinando CasiniPier Ferdinando CasiniPier Ferdinando Casini is an Italian politician.-Biography:President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies from 2001 to 2006...
(2008–present) - Party Leader in the SenateItalian SenateThe Senate of the Republic is the upper house of the Italian Parliament. It was established in its current form on 8 May 1948, but previously existed during the Kingdom of Italy as Senato del Regno , itself a continuation of the Senato Subalpino of Sardinia-Piedmont established on 8 May 1848...
: Francesco D'Onofrio (2001–2008), Gianpiero D'Alia (2008–present) - Party Leader in the European ParliamentEuropean ParliamentThe European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
: Vito BonsignoreVito BonsignoreVito Bonsignore is an Italian politician andMember of the European Parliamentfor North-Westwith the Cristiani Democratici Uniti, part of the European People's Party and...
(2004–2008), Iles BraghettoIles BraghettoIlles Braghetto is an Italian politician.He started teaching religion in upper secondary schools in 1976 and graduated in modern literature in 1984. Since his young years he was a member of Christian Democracy. Between 1980 and 1985 he was town councillor and deputy mayor of Padua...
(2008–2009), Iles BraghettoIles BraghettoIlles Braghetto is an Italian politician.He started teaching religion in upper secondary schools in 1976 and graduated in modern literature in 1984. Since his young years he was a member of Christian Democracy. Between 1980 and 1985 he was town councillor and deputy mayor of Padua...
(2008–2009), Carlo CasiniCarlo CasiniCarlo Casini is an Italian politician. He has been a member of the European Parliament since May 8, 2006, when he took up a seat vacated after the 2006 Italian general election. He represents the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats within the EPP-ED parliamentary group. He was previously an...
(2009–present)