Centre Group (Gylias)
Centre Group | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1960 |
| Dissolved | 2007 |
| Merged into | Movement for Action and Democracy |
| Ideology | |
| Political position | Centre Historical: Centre to Centre-right (1960–1969) |
| Colors | Orange |
The Centre Group (French reformed: Groupe centriste) was an electoral bloc of centrist parties in Gylias. Formed in 1960, it was the main centrist electoral bloc in Gylias. It was dissolved in 2007 when most of its parties merged into the Movement for Action and Democracy.
History
The bloc was formed by the Moderate Centrist Party and Rally of the Democratic Centre 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.
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 felt it violated the bloc's aim to occupy the centre ground.
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 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%.
Due to its identity crisis and lack of support, Marie-Agnès Delaunay approached its parties when preparing to enter politics. She persuaded almost all member parties to merge into her Movement for Action and Democracy. The bloc was thus dissolved before the 2008 federal election. The only remaining party, the Centre for Constitutional Monarchists, disbanded by the end of 2008.
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 was the main centrist bloc of Gylian politics. It included parties with social liberal, reformist, participist, and radical centrist positions. It was considered centre.
Common platform planks included support for emancipated markets, social liberalism, progressivism, participism, reformism, and decentralisation.
Symbols
The CG used the common colour orange.
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% | 59 / 500
|
Opposition | |||
