Centre Group (Gylias)
Centre Group | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1960 |
| Ideology | |
| Political position | Historical: Centre to Centre-right Contemporary: Centre |
| Colors | Orange |
The Centre Group (French reformed: Groupe centriste) is an electoral bloc of centrist parties in Gylias. Formed in 1960, it is the main centrist electoral bloc in Gylias.
History
The bloc was formed by the MCP and RDC after electoral reform in 1960. Motivated by their narrow entrance into the Popular Assembly in 1958, it was the first electoral bloc established in Gylias. Three further parties formed in the bloc — the RCP, IPR, and CCM — as part of a general consolidation of 5-party electoral blocs.
Due to the "constructive"–"recalcitrant" battle within Gylian conservatism, many "constructives" joined the CG, causing it to lean centre-right in its early years. It performed respectably in the 1962 and 1969 federal elections, forming the official opposition. Its first leader Sasa Ruişela proved a Beatrice Albini-like figure, commanding broad public respect that failed to translate to the ballot box. Her sympathy with the centre-right leanings of the CG frustrated centrists who saw this as a hijacking of the CG's declared aim to occupy the centre ground of politics.
The destruction of the Conservative Coalition after the 1969 federal election and its replacement by the National Bloc ushered in a political realignment. Many centre-right politicians previously elected under other banners joined the NB parties instead. While this left the CG as a purely centrist formation, it also meant a reduction in support after the departure of its centre-right voters.
Weaker leadership, timid policies, and overt reliance on ideological "equidistance" hurt the bloc during the wretched decade, as the NB seized the mantle of opposition to the Aén Ďanez government.
Opposition disunity allowed Aén to remain in office as a caretaker until the Ossorian war crisis of 1986, after which the opposition banded together and formed the Filomena Pinheiro government. This marked the CG's first participation in a federal government.
The 1990 federal election proved to be a breakthrough for Non-inscrits, as voters punished the established blocs for their role in the wretched decade. The CG's long record in opposition proved beneficial, and it largely retained its existing support.
During the 1990s–2000s, the CG had an ambiguous role, alternately providing outside support for and opposing the Mathilde Vieira government depending on issues. Its federal support stabilised around a core of 13–14%. While remaining centrist, this period also consolidated its closeness towards the NB.
The CG obtained its best result in the 2020 federal election, winning 81 deputies, and subsequently joined the Lena Haidynraix government.
Composition
| Party | Main ideology | |
|---|---|---|
| Moderate Centrist Party (MCP) | ||
| Rally of the Democratic Centre (RDC) | ||
| Reformist Centre Party (RCP) | Reformism | |
| Independent Progress Rally (IPR) | ||
| Centre of Constitutional Monarchists (CCM) | Constitutional monarchism | |
Ideology
The CG is the main centrist bloc of Gylian politics, complemented by various centrist Non-inscrits. The bloc includes parties with social liberal, reformist, participist, and radical centrist positions. It is considered centre.
Common platform planks include support for emancipated markets, social liberalism, progressivism, participism, reformism, and decentralisation.
Symbols
The CG uses the colour orange as its common colour.
Electoral results
Gylian Parliament
| Election | Chamber of Deputies | Senate | Government | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FPV | % | Seats | FPV | % | Seats | ||
| 1962 | 878.120 | 19,3% | 55 / 285
|
899.864 | 19,8% | 72 / 300
|
Opposition |
| 1969 | 1.061.806 | 18,6% | 59 / 285
|
977.745 | 17,2% | 68 / 300
|
Opposition |
| 1976 | 722.863 | 10,3% | 32 / 395
|
793.491 | 11,3% | 50 / 300
|
Opposition |
| 1980 | 878.606 | 11,1% | 33 / 395
|
791.323 | 10,0% | 40 / 300
|
Opposition |
| 1985 | 1.049.831 | 11,9% | 54 / 520
|
1.014.645 | 11,5% | 44 / 300
|
Opposition |
| Coalition | |||||||
| 1990 | 1.378.149 | 14,0% | 55 / 500
|
1.210.680 | 12,3% | 50 / 300
|
Opposition |
| 1995 | 1.509.680 | 13,9% | 53 / 500
|
1.346.493 | 12,4% | 50 / 300
|
Opposition |
| 2000 | 1.728.305 | 14,2% | 60 / 500
|
N/A | Opposition | ||
| 2004 | 1.779.757 | 13,5% | 57 / 500
|
Opposition | |||
| 2008 | 2.014.207 | 13,9% | 64 / 500
|
Opposition | |||
| 2012 | 2.109.053 | 13,2% | 64 / 500
|
Opposition | |||
| 2016 | 2.333.179 | 13,3% | 63 / 500
|
Opposition | |||
| 2020 | 2.790.471 | 14,6% | 81 / 500
|
Coalition | |||
