The Union of Christian and Centre Democrats (Italian: 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.
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 aligned with the New Pole for Italy and, therefore, it 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 (PdL), the main party of the Italian centre-right, within several regional, provincial and municipal governments (notably in Lazio, Campania and Calabria), but has recently formed alliances also with the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) in other regions (notably in Marche) and at the very local level.
Read more about Union Of Christian And Centre Democrats: Ideology, Factions, Popular Support, Symbols, Leadership
Famous quotes containing the words union, christian, centre and/or democrats:
“If the Union is once severed, the line of separation will grow wider and wider, and the controversies which are now debated and settled in the halls of legislation will then be tried in fields of battle and determined by the sword.”
—Andrew Jackson (1767–1845)
“My object will be, if possible, to form Christian men, for Christian boys I can scarcely hope to make.”
—Thomas Arnold (1795–1842)
“The bogholes might be Atlantic seepage.
The wet centre is bottomless.”
—Seamus Heaney (b. 1939)
“In all history no class has been enfranchised without some selfish motive underlying. If to-day we could prove to Republicans or Democrats that every woman would vote for their party, we should be enfranchised.”
—Carrie Chapman Catt (1859–1947)