Union of the Democratic Centre (Greece)

Ένωση Δημοκρατικού Κέντρου
Union of the Democratic Centre
Leader George Mavros
Founder George Mavros
Founded 1961
Dissolved 1977
Merger of Center Union - New Forces,Democratic Center Union
Succeeded by PASOK
Ideology Centrism,Social Liberalism,Venizelism,Radicalism
Political position Centre
Politics of Greece
Political parties
Elections
Greece

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The Union of the Democratic Centre (EDIK, Greek: Ένωση Δημοκρατικού Κέντρου (ΕΔΗΚ), Enosi Dimokratikou Kentrou) was a centrist, liberal party in Greece.

The party was founded on February 5, 1976, two years after the end of the military junta's rule, asserting itself to be the ideological successor of the once ruling Center Union party. EDIK was the result of the merger of Center Union - New Forces and the Democratic Center Union of Ioannis Zidgis. Its party leader at the time was George Mavros who earlier led the Center Union - New Forces; Mavros, though, would join PASOK a couple of years later. The party was led by Zidgis in the early 80's, and has since adopted more social-democratic 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 PASOK ticket, and again in 1985, when EDIK and PASOK officially co-operated. In 1989, EDIK ran independently and did not elect any representatives in parliament.

Since 1998, party president is Neoklis Sarris, and the party operates mostly as a forum of political analysis and public, ideological debates.

Elections

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