Centrist Democrat International

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Centrist Democrat International
Idc-cdi-logo.png
Formation30 July 1961 (1961-07-30)[1]
PurposeChristian democracy
Integral humanism
Social conservatism
HeadquartersBrussels, Belgium
Region served
Worldwide
Membership
73
Official languages
  • French
  • English
  • Spanish
Chairman
Andrés Pastrana Arango
SubsidiariesYouth of the Centrist Democrat International
AffiliationsChristian Democrat Organization of America (ODCA)
European People's Party (EPP)
National Democratic Institute (NDI)
Websiteidc-cdi.com
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The Centrist Democrat International (Spanish: Internacional Demócrata de Centro) is a Christian-democratic political international. Until 2001, it was known as the Christian Democrat International (CDI); before 1999, it was known as the Christian Democrat and People's Parties International. This earlier name is still sometimes used colloquially.

It is the primary international political group dedicated to the promotion of Christian democracy. Although it gathers parties from around the globe, its members are drawn principally from Europe and Latin America. Some of them are also members of the conservative International Democrat Union (IDU), although the CDI is closer to the continental European style conservative political centre and more communitarian than the IDU.

Formation[]

The organization was formed in 1961 in Santiago, Chile, as the Christian Democrat World Union, building on the legacy of other Christian democrat internationals alternative to the socialist internationals who tried to create a Christian-inspired third way. In 1982, it was renamed for the first time as the Christian Democrat International. The name was officially changed due to the participation of groups of various faiths such as the Islamic PAN of Indonesia.

In September 2001, the Leaders' Conference in Mexico City changed the organization's name to Centrist Democrat International, which kept the original abbreviation (CDI). In many Asian and African countries reference to religion was not allowed, and absent a name change, the CDI would not have been able to extend itself into Asia and Africa.[2]

The CDI's European division is the European People's Party, currently the largest European political party. It is Latin American equivalent is the Christian Democrat Organization of America. The Democratic Party of the United States of America maintains links with CDI through the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs.

A youth organization of the CDI is currently being established, under the name of Youth of the Centrist Democrat International (YCDI).

Establishment history[]

  • Dec 1925: The first international gathering of Catholic-Christian democratic parties takes place in Paris and they establish the Secrétariat International des Partis Démocratiques d'Inspiration Chrétienne (SIPDIC). Member parties were from Belgium, Germany, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria, Switzerland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Spain, Portugal, and Lithuania.
  • 1939 to 1945: World War II suspends the operations of the SIPDIC.
  • 23 Apr 1947: Political leaders from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay meet in Montevideo, to create an international organization of Christian democratic parties. Representatives from Bolivia and Peru participate via diplomatic correspondence. The Declaration of Montevideo established the Organización Demócrata Cristiana de América (ODCA), although the name was not formalized until their second meeting in July 1949.
  • 03 Jun 1947: European Christian Democrats formed the Nouvelles Équipes Internationales (NEI) in Chaudfontaine, Belgium, prompted by the suggestion of the Swiss a year before restarting the SIPDIC. The NEI was open to non-Catholic parties as long as they ascribed to the principles of social democracy. They saw European integration as the best way to prevent the spread of communism into western Europe and thus encouraged exile groups from Bulgaria, Romania, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia to attend. The NEI also played a significant role in preparations for the Hague Congress and the eventual establishment of the European Coal and Steel Community.
  • 26 Jul 1950: The Christian Democratic Union of Central Europe (CDUCE) is formed in New York City to assist Christian democratic parties in exile by organizing forces in opposition to communism according to a constitutional charter. By 1955, it had begun working with underground operatives in the Soviet bloc while simultaneously trying to coordinate efforts between European and Latin American Christian Democratic parties.
  • May, Jul 1956: The ODCA, NEI, and CDUCE meet for the first time in Paris at a gathering consisting of 33 delegations from 28 countries to discuss the creation of a global Christian democratic organization.
  • 1960: The three regional Christian democratic organizations establish the Christian Democratic International Information and Documentation Centre (CDI-IDC) in Rome to provide political analyses for Christian democratic parties around the world.
  • 1961: The World Union of Christian Democrats (WUCD) is established in Santiago.
  • 1982: The WUCD changes its name to the Christian Democrat International (CDI).
  • 1999: The CDI changes its name to the Centrist Democrat International due to the increasing membership of non-Christian political parties. Since October 2000, some have also informally referred to the CDI as the Christian Democrat and People's Parties International.

Member-parties of the CDI today also tend to be members of either the ODCA or the European People's Party (EPP; successor to NEI), although it is not required. Conversely, there may also be member-parties of either the ODCA and the EPP that are not member-parties of the CDI. The CDI also maintains a relationship with the United States through the National Democratic Institute.

Executive committee[]

The CDI Executive Committee is the highest body of the organization. It consists of the president, the executive secretary, and the vice-presidents.

The current president of the CDI is Andrés Pastrana Arango of Colombia. Its Executive Secretary is MEP Antonio López-Istúriz, from Spain, who is also Secretary-General of the EPP.[3]

The members of the executive committee are:

  • Andrés Pastrana Arango (Colombia) – President
  • Antonio López-Istúriz (Spain) – Executive Secretary
  • Mário David (Portugal) – Deputy Executive Secretary
  • César Maia (Brazil) – Vice-President
  • Lourdes Flores (Peru) – Vice-President
  • Mike Eman (Aruba) – Vice-President
  • Mariano Rajoy (Spain) – Vice-President
  • Juan Luis Seliman (Dominican Republic) – Vice-President
  • Gonzalo Arenas (Chile) – Vice-President
  • Naha Mint Mouknass (Mauritania) – Vice-President
  • Abbas El Fassi (Morocco) – Vice-President
  • Edcel Lagman (Philippines) – Vice-President
  • Mikulas Dzurinda (Slovakia) – Vice-President
  • Viktor Orbán (Hungary) – Vice-President
  • Elmar Brok (Germany) – Vice-President
  • Jadranka Kosor (Croatia) – Vice-President
  • Andrés Pastrana (Colombia) – Vice-President
  • Luís Marques Mendes (Portugal) – Vice-President
  • Wilfried Martens (Belgium) – Ex officio Vice-President (as President of the EPP)
  • Jorge Ocejo Moreno (Mexico) – Ex officio Vice-President (as President of the ODCA)
  • Carlos Veiga (Cape Verde) – Ex officio Vice-President

Member parties[]

Country Party Abbr Government Period of membership
 Albania Democratic Party of Albania PD in opposition
 Algeria National Rally for Democracy RND junior party in coalition
 Andorra New Centre NC extraparliamentary opposition
 Angola National Union for the Total Independence of Angola UNITA in opposition
 Argentina Justicialist Party PJ in government
Christian Democratic Party PDC extraparliamentary opposition
 Armenia Rule of Law OEK extraparliamentary opposition
 Aruba Aruban People's Party AVP/PPA in opposition
 Belgium Christian Democratic and Flemish CD&V junior party in coalition
 Botswana Botswana National Front BNF in opposition
 Brazil Democrats DEM in government
 Bulgaria GERB GERB in government
Union of Democratic Forces SDS extraparliamentary opposition
 Burkina Faso Union for the Republic UR in opposition
 Cambodia National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia FUNCINPEC in opposition
Cambodian People's Party CPP in government
 Cape Verde Movement for Democracy MPD in government
 Chile Christian Democratic Party PDC in opposition
National Renewal RN in government Since 2018
 Republic of China Chinese Nationalist Party KMT in opposition
 Colombia Colombian Conservative Party PCC in government
Democratic Center CD in government
 Democratic Republic of the Congo Movement for the Liberation of the Congo MLC in opposition
 Costa Rica Social Christian Unity Party PUSC in opposition
 Croatia Croatian Democratic Union HDZ in government
 Cuba Christian Liberation Movement MCL in exile
Christian Democratic Party of Cuba PDCC in exile
 Curaçao National People's Party NVP/PNP in opposition
 Cyprus Democratic Rally DISY in government
 Czech Republic Christian and Democratic Union – Czechoslovak People's Party KDU–ČSL in opposition
 Denmark Christian Democrats KD extraparliamentary opposition
 Dominican Republic Social Christian Reformist Party PRSC in opposition
 Ecuador Christian Democratic Union UDC in opposition
 El Salvador Christian Democratic Party PDC in opposition
 France The Republicans LR in opposition
 Gabon Gabonese Democratic Party PDG in government
 Georgia European Georgia EG in opposition
 Germany Christian Democratic Union CDU senior party in coalition
 Greece New Democracy ND in government
 Guinea-Bissau Party for Social Renewal PRS in opposition
 Equatorial Guinea Popular Action of Equatorial Guinea APGE in opposition
 Hungary Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Alliance FIDESZ in government
 Indonesia National Awakening Party[4] PKB in government
 Ireland Fine Gael FG in government
 Italy Union of the Centre UdC in opposition
 Ivory Coast Rally of the Republicans[5] RDR in government
 Kenya Wiper Democratic Movement – Kenya WDM-K in opposition
 Lebanon Lebanese Forces LF - Chrisitan Resistance in opposition
Kataeb Phalange in opposition
 Malawi Malawi Congress Party MCP in government
 Malta Nationalist Party PN in opposition
 Mauritania Union for Democracy and Progress UDP junior party in coalition
Union for the Republic UR in government
 Mexico National Action Party PAN in opposition
 Morocco Istiqlal Party in opposition
 Mozambique Democratic Movement of Mozambique MDM in opposition
 Netherlands Christian Democratic Appeal CDA junior party in coalition
 Norway Christian People's Party KrF junior party in coalition
 Panama People's Party PP extraparliamentary opposition
 Paraguay Christian Democratic Party PDC in opposition
 Peru Christian People's Party PPC extraparliamentary opposition
 Philippines Struggle of Democratic Filipinos LDP junior party in coalition
Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats Lakas junior party in coalition
 Portugal Social Democratic Party PSD in opposition
 Romania Christian Democratic National Peasants' Party PNȚ-CD extraparliamentary opposition
National Liberal Party PNL senior party in coalition
People's Movement Party PMP extraparliamentary support
Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania RMDSZ junior party in coalition Since 2018[6]
 San Marino Sammarinese Christian Democratic Party PDCS in opposition
 São Tomé and Príncipe Independent Democratic Action ADI in government
 Senegal Centrist Union of Senegal UCS junior party in government
Bloc des centristes Gaïndé BCG in opposition
 Slovenia New Slovenia NSi junior party in coalition
Slovenian Democratic Party SDS senior party in coalition
 Spain People's Party PP in opposition
 Sweden Christian Democrats KD in opposition
 Ukraine Christian Democratic Union KhDS in opposition
 Uruguay National Party PN in government
 Venezuela Christian Social Party 'Copei' COPEI in opposition

Observer parties[]

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ Durand, Jean-Dominique, ed. (2015-01-01). Christian Democrat Internationalism. Peter Lang. p. 71. doi:10.3726/978-3-0352-6492-0. ISBN 978-3-0352-9924-3.
  2. ^ Wilfried Martens (2008). Europe: I Struggle, I Overcome. Springer / Centre for European Studies. p. 220.
  3. ^ "Organization page on the official CDI website". Archived from the original on Mar 27, 2012.
  4. ^ Safitri, Eva. "PKB Resmi Jadi Anggota Koalisi Partai Demokratis Internasional". detiknews.
  5. ^ Parties, Centrist Democrat International, idc-cdi.com, retrieved 31 August 2016.
  6. ^ "Conference of Centrist Democrat International held in Budapest". Daily News Hungary. 2018-02-17. Retrieved 2021-05-21.
  7. ^ "The Heritage Party Has Become an Observer Member of Centrist Democrat International". www.heritage.am.
  8. ^ "parties". IDC-CDI. Retrieved 15 August 2020.

Literature[]

  • Papini, Roberto (1997). The Christian Democrat International. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.

External links[]

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