Centrist Democrat International

Centrist Democrat International
AbbreviationCDI (English)
IDC (French, Spanish)
Formation30 July 1961 (1961-07-30)[1]
PurposeChristian democracy
HeadquartersBrussels, Belgium
Region served
Worldwide
Membership109 political parties
Official languages
  • French
  • English
  • Spanish
President
Andrés Pastrana Arango
SubsidiariesYouth of the Centrist Democrat International
AffiliationsChristian Democrat Organization of America (ODCA)
European People's Party (EPP)
National Democratic Institute (NDI)
Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS)
Websiteidc-cdi.com

The Centrist Democrat International (CDI; Spanish: Internacional Demócrata de Centro, IDC) is the largest international political organization in the world bringing together center and center-right parties committed to defending democratic values, human rights, and the rule of law.

The CDI was founded on 30 July 1961 in Santiago, Chile, as the Christian Democrat World Union, reflecting the central role that Christian democratic parties played in its foundation. However, over the decades, the CDI has progressively expanded its identity and membership to include parties from a wide range of ideological traditions, and in 1999, it was renamed the Centrist Democrat International due to the participation of groups from other religions.

Today, it represents a broad political family committed to defending and strengthening constitutional democracy as the only viable system for guaranteeing freedom, pluralism, and social justice. To achieve this, the CDI works through its regional organizations.

The CDI's European division is the European People's Party, the largest European political party. Its African equivalent is the regional IDC.Africa, which has its own statutes aligned with the principles of the CDI. The CDI also works with think tanks such as the National Democratic Institute and the Wilfred Martens Centre (WMCES).

Global Presence and Expansion

Although the CDI was historically rooted in Europe and Latin America, it has evolved into a truly global political network. Over the last two decades, it has significantly strengthened its presence in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, creating regional platforms and promoting cross-regional cooperation among its member parties.

This global reach enables the CDI to address pressing challenges such as conflict resolution, the defense of democracy against authoritarianism, and the promotion of peace and stability in fragile regions. The creation of IDC.Africa reflects the organization’s strategic engagement with emerging democracies and the promotion of good governance across the continent.

Commitment to Peace and Democracy

In an era marked by growing geopolitical tensions, great-power rivalry, and threats to the post-war international order, the CDI positions itself as a strong defender of peace, prosperity, and democratic values. It seeks to:

  • Uphold freedom, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence among different faiths, cultures, and communities.
  • Build bridges across political and cultural divides, promoting dialogue and reconciliation rather than polarization.
  • Strengthen multilateralism and protect global institutions against destabilizing authoritarian influences.
  • Support preventive diplomacy, conflict mediation, and value-based international partnerships.

The CDI sees the coming years as decisive in the global struggle between democracy and authoritarianism. It aims to reinforce the solidarity of democrats worldwide, fostering regional and global alliances that are resilient in the face of rising populism and autocracy.

Timeline

  • December 1925: The first international gathering of Catholic-Christian democratic parties takes place in Paris, establishing the International Secretariat of Democratic Parties of Christian Inspiration (SIPDIC). Member parties were from Belgium, Germany, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria, Switzerland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Spain, Portugal, and Lithuania.
  • 1939 to 1945: World War II suspends the SIPDIC.
  • 23 April 1947: Political leaders from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay meet in Montevideo to create an international organization of Christian democratic parties. Representatives from Bolivia and Peru participate via diplomatic correspondence. The Declaration of Montevideo establishes the Organización Demócrata Cristiana de América (ODCA), although the name is not formalized until their second meeting in July 1949.
  • 3 June 1947: European Christian Democrats form the Nouvelles Équipes Internationales (NEI) in Chaudfontaine, Belgium, prompted by the Swiss a year before restarting the SIPDIC. The NEI, open to non-Catholic parties who subscribed to the principles of social democracy, sees European integration as the best way to prevent the spread of communism into western Europe and encourages exile groups from Bulgaria, Romania, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia to attend. The NEI plays a significant role in preparations for the Hague Congress and the establishment of the European Coal and Steel Community.
  • 26 July 1950: The Christian Democratic Union of Central Europe (CDUCE) is formed in New York City to assist Christian democratic parties in exile by organizing forces in opposition to communism. By 1955, it begins working with underground operatives in the Soviet bloc while trying to coordinate efforts between European and Latin American Christian Democratic parties.
  • May and July 1956: The ODCA, NEI, and CDUCE meet for the first time in Paris at a gathering of 33 delegations from 28 countries to discuss the creation of a global Christian democratic organization.
  • 1960: The three regional Christian democratic organizations establish the Christian Democratic International Information and Documentation Centre (CDI-IDC) in Rome to provide political analyses for Christian democratic parties around the world.
  • 1961: The World Union of Christian Democrats (WUCD) is established in Santiago.
  • 1982: The WUCD changes its name to the Christian Democrat International (CDI).
  • 1999: The CDI changes its name to the Centrist Democrat International due to the increasing membership of non-Christian political parties. Since October 2000, some have informally referred to the CDI as the Christian Democrat and People's Parties International.
  • 2021: The CDI underwent a profound change in its legal and constitutive form, considerably increasing its political, communicative and organisational skills.

Executive committee

The CDI Executive Committee consists of the President, Secretary-general, and Vice-Presidents. The President is Andrés Pastrana Arango, former President of Colombia and the Secretary-General is MEP Antonio López-Istúriz of Spain.

Members of the executive committee are:

Member parties

Country Party Abbr Government Lower Chamber Upper Chamber
 Albania Democratic Party of Albania PD Opposition
50 / 140 (36%)
 Algeria National Rally for Democracy RND Junior party in coalition
58 / 407 (14%)
21 / 144 (15%)
 Angola National Union for the Total Independence of Angola UNITA Opposition
90 / 220 (41%)
 Argentina Christian Democratic Party PDC extraparliamentary opposition
0 / 257 (0%)
0 / 72 (0%)
 Armenia Rule of Law OEK extraparliamentary opposition
0 / 107 (0%)
Republican Party of Armenia RPA Opposition
4 / 107 (4%)
 Aruba Aruban People's Party AVP/PPA Government
9 / 21 (43%)
 Bangladesh Bangladesh Nationalist Party BNP Government
208 / 350 (59%)
 Belgium Christian Democratic and Flemish CD&V Junior party in coalition
11 / 150 (7%)
5 / 60 (8%)
 Botswana Botswana National Front BNF Government
22 / 65 (34%)
 Brazil Brazilian Social Democracy Party PSDB Opposition
14 / 513 (3%)
1 / 81 (1%)
 Burkina Faso Union for the Republic UR Opposition
0 / 127 (0%)
 Cambodia National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia FUNCINPEC neither government nor opposition
5 / 125 (4%)
2 / 62 (3%)
Cambodian People's Party CPP Government
120 / 125 (96%)
55 / 62 (89%)
 Cape Verde Movement for Democracy MPD Government
38 / 72 (53%)
 Chile Christian Democratic Party PDC neither government nor opposition
9 / 155 (6%)
3 / 43 (7%)
National Renewal RN Opposition
23 / 155 (15%)
11 / 50 (22%)
 Republic of China Kuomintang KMT Opposition
52 / 113 (46%)
 Colombia Colombian Conservative Party PCC Government
25 / 188 (13%)
15 / 108 (14%)
New Democratic Force NFD Opposition
0 / 187
0 / 108
Democratic Center CD Opposition
15 / 188 (8%)
13 / 108 (12%)
Colombia Justa Libres CJL Opposition
0 / 188
1 / 108
 Democratic Republic of the Congo Movement for the Liberation of the Congo MLC Opposition
19 / 500 (4%)
4 / 108 (4%)
 Costa Rica Social Christian Unity Party PUSC Opposition
9 / 57 (16%)
 Croatia Croatian Democratic Union HDZ Government
55 / 151 (36%)
 Cuba Christian Liberation Movement MCL extraparliamentary opposition
0 / 470 (0%)
Christian Democratic Party of Cuba PDCC extraparliamentary opposition
0 / 470 (0%)
 Curaçao National People's Party NVP/PNP Opposition
4 / 21 (19%)
 Cyprus Democratic Rally DISY Opposition
17 / 56 (30%)
 Czech Republic KDU-ČSL KDU–ČSL Opposition
16 / 200 (8%)
12 / 81 (15%)
 Dominican Republic Social Christian Reformist Party PRSC Opposition
4 / 190 (2%)
1 / 32 (3%)
 Dominican Republic Dominicans for Change DxC junior party in coalition
2 / 190
1 / 32
 El Salvador Christian Democratic Party PDC Opposition
1 / 84 (1%)
 France The Republicans LR Opposition
52 / 577 (9%)
121 / 348 (35%)
 Gabon Gabonese Democratic Party PDG Opposition
98 / 143 (69%)
 Georgia European Georgia — Movement for Liberty extraparliamentary opposition
0 / 150
 Germany Christian Democratic Union CDU Government
164 / 630 (26%)
19 / 69 (28%)
 Greece New Democracy ND Government
156 / 300 (52%)
 Guinea Parti de l'espoir pour le développement national PEDN extraparliamentary opposition
 Guinea-Bissau Party for Social Renewal PRS Opposition
12 / 102 (12%)
 Equatorial Guinea Popular Action of Equatorial Guinea APGE extraparliamentary opposition
0 / 100 (0%)
0 / 70 (0%)
 Hungary Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Alliance FIDESZ Government
116 / 199 (58%)
Christian Democratic People's Party KDNP Government
19 / 199 (10%)
 Indonesia National Awakening Party[2] PKB Junior party in coalition
68 / 580 (12%)
 Ireland Fine Gael FG Government
38 / 160 (24%)
17 / 60 (28%)
 Italy Union of the Centre UDC Junior party in coalition
1 / 400 (0.3%)
1 / 200 (0.5%)
Associative Movement of Italians Abroad MAIE Junior party in coalition
1 / 400
1 / 400
 Ivory Coast Rally of the Republicans[3] RDR Government
127 / 255 (50%)
 Kenya Wiper Democratic Movement – Kenya WDM-K Opposition
25 / 349 (7%)
3 / 67 (4%)
 Lebanon Kataeb Phalange Government
4 / 128 (3%)
 Madagascar Malagasy Miara-Miainga MMM Opposition
 Malawi Malawi Congress Party MCP Government
55 / 193 (28%)
 Mali Union for the Republic and Democracy URD extraparliamentary opposition
19 / 147 (13%)
 Malta Nationalist Party PN Opposition
35 / 79 (44%)
 Mauritania Union for Democracy and Progress UDP junior party in coalition
10 / 176 (6%)
Equity Party El Insaf in government
107 / 176 (61%)
 Mauritius Parti Mauricien Social Democrate PMSD Opposition
1 / 66
 Mexico National Action Party PAN Opposition
70 / 500 (14%)
21 / 128 (16%)
 Montenegro Europe Now! PES! Government
20 / 81 (25%)
 Morocco Istiqlal Party Junior party in coalition
81 / 395 (21%)
24 / 120 (20%)
 Mozambique Democratic Movement of Mozambique MDM Opposition
8 / 250 (3%)
 Panama People's Party PP Opposition
2 / 71 (3%)
 Paraguay Christian Democratic Party PDC Opposition
0 / 80 (0%)
0 / 45 (0%)
 Peru Christian People's Party PPC extraparliamentary opposition
0 / 130 (0%)
 Philippines Fight of Democratic Filipinos LDP Junior party in coalition
1 / 316 (0.3%)
0 / 24 (0%)
Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats Lakas senior party in coalition
111 / 316 (35%)
1 / 24 (4%)
 Portugal Social Democratic Party PSD Government
89 / 230 (39%)
 Romania National Liberal Party PNL senior party in coalition
49 / 330 (15%)
22 / 136 (16%)
Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania RMDSZ Junior party in coalition
23 / 330 (7%)
10 / 136 (7%)
 San Marino Sammarinese Christian Democratic Party PDCS Government
22 / 60 (37%)
 São Tomé and Príncipe Independent Democratic Action ADI Government
30 / 55 (55%)
 Senegal Centrist Union of Senegal UCS Junior party in government
Bloc des centristes Gaïndé BCG Opposition
 Serbia Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians VMSZ In coalition
6 / 250
 Slovenia New Slovenia NSi Opposition
8 / 90 (9%)
Slovenian Democratic Party SDS Opposition
24 / 90 (27%)
 Spain People's Party PP Opposition
137 / 350 (39%)
140 / 266 (53%)
 Sweden Christian Democrats KD Government
19 / 349 (5%)
 Ukraine Party of Hungarians of Ukraine KMKSZ Extraparliamentary
0 / 450
 Venezuela Christian Social Party 'Copei' COPEI Opposition
1 / 277 (0.4%)
Justice First PJ Extra-parliamentary
0 / 277 (0%)

Former members

Observer parties

The IDC-CDI has 21 observers, including:

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Durand, Jean-Dominique, ed. (2015-01-01). Christian Democrat Internationalism. Peter Lang. p. 71. doi:10.3726/978-3-0352-6492-0. ISBN 978-3-0352-9924-3.
  2. ^ Safitri, Eva. "PKB Resmi Jadi Anggota Koalisi Partai Demokratis Internasional". detiknews. Archived from the original on 2023-04-08. Retrieved 2019-03-24.
  3. ^ Parties, Centrist Democrat International, idc-cdi.com, retrieved 31 August 2016.
  4. ^ "The Heritage Party Has Become an Observer Member of Centrist Democrat International". www.heritage.am. Archived from the original on 2019-08-06. Retrieved 2019-08-06.
  5. ^ "parties". IDC-CDI. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  6. ^ "Osa Osa Ecoro welcomes the president of the IDC". Archived from the original on 2019-07-10. Retrieved 2024-11-12.

Further reading

  • Papini, Roberto (1997). The Christian Democrat International. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
  • Grabow, Karsten & Hartleb, Florian (Eds.) (2013). Exposing the Demagogues. Center for European Studies & Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nouvelles_Equipes_Internationale