The Union of the Democratic Centre ( el, Ένωση Δημοκρατικού Κέντρου, abbr. ΕΔΗΚ, ''Enosi Dimokratikou Kentrou'', ''EDIK'') is a
social liberal
Social liberalism (german: Sozialliberalismus, es, socioliberalismo, nl, Sociaalliberalisme), also known as new liberalism in the United Kingdom, modern liberalism, or simply liberalism in the contemporary United States, left-liberalism ...
political party in
Greece.
The party was founded on 5 February 1976, two years after the end of the
Greek military junta of 1967–74, asserting itself to be the ideological successor of the pre-1967
Centre Union
The Centre Union ( el, Ἕνωσις Κέντρου ''Énōsis Kéntrou'', abbreviated ΕΚ) was a major centrist political party in Greece, created in 1961 by Georgios Papandreou.Clogg, 1987, pp. 39–40
History
The Centre Union was a politica ...
party. EDIK was the result of the merger of
Centre Union – New Forces
Centre Union – New Forces (EK-ND, Greek: ''Ένωσις Κέντρου-Νέες Δυνάμεις'' (Ε.Κ. – Ν.Δ.), ''Enosi Kentrou-Nees Dynameis'') was the continuation of the Centre Union party of George Papandreou after the military junt ...
and the
Democratic Centre Union
The Union of the Democratic Centre (, UCD, also translated as "Democratic Centre Union") was an electoral alliance, and later political party, in Spain, existing from 1977 to 1983. It was initially led by Adolfo Suárez.
History
The coalition, ...
of
Ioannis Zidgis Ioannis or Ioannes ( el, Ιωάννης), shortened to Giannis or Yannis (Γιάννης) is a Greek given name cognate with Johannes and John and the Arabic name Yahya . Notable people with the name include:
* Ioannis I, Tzimiskis, Byzantine Emper ...
. Its party leader at the time was
George Mavros
Georgios Mavros ( el, Γεώργιος Μαύρος) (Kastellorizo, 15 March 1909 – Athens, 6 May 1995) was a Greek jurist and politician. He served in several ministerial posts, and was Minister for Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister ...
who earlier led the Center Union – New Forces; Mavros, though, would join the
Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) a couple of years later. The party was led by Zidgis in the early 1980s, and has since adopted more
social-democratic
Social democracy is a Political philosophy, political, Social philosophy, social, and economic philosophy within socialism that supports Democracy, political and economic democracy. As a policy regime, it is described by academics as advocati ...
positions.
With the Greek political spectrum shifting to the left, EDIK was increasingly marginalized, with PASOK replacing it as the country's second major party. The party's support collapsed in the
elections of 1981, when it gained 0.7% of the vote and was shut out of Parliament. However, George Mavros was elected as an independent on a PASOK ticket, and again in
1985
The year 1985 was designated as the International Youth Year by the United Nations.
Events January
* January 1
** The Internet's Domain Name System is created.
** Greenland withdraws from the European Economic Community as a result of a ...
, when EDIK and PASOK officially co-operated. In 1989, EDIK ran independently and did not elect any representatives in parliament.
From 1998 to 2011, the party president was
Neoklis Sarris
Neoklis Sarris ''( Greek:'' '' Νεοκλής Σαρρής)'' was a Greek Academic, Jurist and Politician. He was born in Istanbul on 5 May 1940, and died in Athens on 19 November 2011 from cancer.
Education
Neoklis Sarris was a graduate of the ...
, and the party operated mostly as a forum of political analysis and public, ideological debates. In the
2009 legislative elections Neoklis Sarris ran for
Democratic Revival. In 2012 the Union of the Democratic Centre was reconstructed.
Stavros Karabelas was elected new president of the party and shifted the political characteristics of the party to the left. Consequently, in the
May 2012 election the party participated as part of the
Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA).
Leaders
*
George Mavros
Georgios Mavros ( el, Γεώργιος Μαύρος) (Kastellorizo, 15 March 1909 – Athens, 6 May 1995) was a Greek jurist and politician. He served in several ministerial posts, and was Minister for Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister ...
*
Ioannis Zidgis Ioannis or Ioannes ( el, Ιωάννης), shortened to Giannis or Yannis (Γιάννης) is a Greek given name cognate with Johannes and John and the Arabic name Yahya . Notable people with the name include:
* Ioannis I, Tzimiskis, Byzantine Emper ...
*
Neoklis Sarris
Neoklis Sarris ''( Greek:'' '' Νεοκλής Σαρρής)'' was a Greek Academic, Jurist and Politician. He was born in Istanbul on 5 May 1940, and died in Athens on 19 November 2011 from cancer.
Education
Neoklis Sarris was a graduate of the ...
*
Stavros Karabelas
Elections
* 1977 – 12 seats
* 1981 – 1 seat
* 1985 – 1 seat
External links
EDIK movement
Liberal parties in Greece
Social democratic parties in Greece
Radical parties
Social liberal parties
Political parties established in 1976
Centrist parties in Greece
Components of Syriza
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