The Union of Christian and Centre Democrats (Italian: Unione dei Democratici Cristiani e di Centro, UDC) is a Christian-democratic political party in Italy. It is formally led by Lorenzo Cesa, although its most popular figure and practical leader is Pier Ferdinando Casini. The party is the driving force behind the Union of the Centre, and since 2008 the party's official name has been neglected in favour of "Union of the Centre" as the two organisations overlap.
UDC is a member of the European People's Party (EPP) and of the Centrist Democrat International (CDI), of which Casini is currently president. The party, which was part of the Pole/House of Freedoms from 1994 through 2008, is currently aligned with the New Pole for Italy and, therefore, it is affiliated neither to the centre-right nor the centre-left at the national level. Despite this, UDC takes part with The People of Freedom (PdL), the main party of the Italian centre-right, within several regional, provincial and municipal governments (notably in Lazio, Campania and Calabria), but has recently formed alliances also with the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) in other regions (notably in Marche) and at the very local level.
Read more about Union Of Christian And Centre Democrats: Ideology, Factions, Popular Support, Symbols, Leadership
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