Centre Union (Theodorous and the Parathalassias)

Centre Union Énosis Kéntrou
Leader	Sophia Alexandrides
Founded	1996
Split from	Optimates Populares
Ideology	Liberalism Venizelism Pro-Europeanism
Political position	Centre
European affiliation	ALDE Party
European Parliament group	Renew Europe
Colours	Orange
Slogan	Ke akartéri fileléftheri laliá "Awaiting freedom-loving speech"
Senate	7 / 30
Local Government	8 / 44
European Parliament (Theodoran seats)	1 / 6
Website
tokentro.tp (planned)

The Centre Union (Greek: Énosis Kéntrou), often referred to simply as The Centre (Greek: To Kéntro) is a centrist and Venizelist political party in Theodorous and the Parathalassias, inspired by the 20th-century Greek party of the same name.

History

Formed in 1996 by defectors from both the Optimates and Populares, then the Principality's major parties, the Centre Union was initially a minor force, winning only a single seat in its first two elections. However, the 2003 Spoils of War Scandal — a major embezzlement scandal in which both the Optimates and Populares were implicated — led to a collapse in support for those parties, with many of their former voters defecting to the Centre Union. In the subsequent 2004 election, the Centre Union came in second, winning 11 seats, and managed to form a minority government led by Anna Alexopoulou. Alexopolou then led the party to win absolute majorities in both the 2007 and 2010 elections. By the 2013 election, however, the Centre Union had grown increasing unpopular due to its compliance with European Union austerity policies, leading the party to lose its majority to anti-austerity parties. It has remained as the referendary opposition ever since, most recently to a Theodoran Spring-led minority government.

Ideology

The Centre Union is a centrist and liberal party, adhering to Venizelist national liberalism. It is strongly pro-European.