Centre Union
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Centre Union Ἔνωσις Κέντρου | |
|---|---|
| Leader | Georgios Papandreou |
| Founded | 1961 |
| Dissolved | 1974 |
| Merger of | Liberal Party Progressive Agricultural Democratic Union National Progressive Center Union Popular Social Party |
| Succeeded by | Centre Union – New Forces New Democracy |
| Headquarters | Athens |
| Ideology | Venizelism National liberalism |
| Political position | Centre |
The Centre Union (EK, Greek: Ένωσις Κέντρου, Enosis Kentrou (ΕΚ)) was a Greek political party, created in 1961 by Georgios Papandreou.
History
The party was elected to power in 1963, with Papandreou as Prime Minister. In 1965, King Constantine forced Papandreou from the office following the Apostasia of 1965 plan, designed by him and executed by Center Union's politician Konstantinos Mitsotakis. He then formed a new government using the apostates, ex-members of EK, and installed Georgios Athanasiadis-Novas as prime minister. Athanasiadis attempted to gain a vote of confidence in parliament, but the EK party was split in two, and a political crisis ensued that led to the period of the Greek military junta of 1967–74.
The Centre Union Party was the last Venizelist party to hold power in Greece. The party nominally continued to exist until 1977 (after the Junta it was known as the Center Union – New Forces), when its successor Union of the Democratic Centre (EDIK) party was created. Konstantinos Mitsotakis, who had defected from the EK in 1965, formed a rival Venizelist party, known as the "Party of New Liberals", which merged with New Democracy in 1978.
Electoral performance
| Year | Party Leader | Number of votes | Percentage of votes | Seats in the Hellenic Parliament |
Position in Parliament |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 100 / 300
|
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| 1963 | 138 / 300
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| 1964 | 171 / 300
|
See also
References
- Richard Clogg, "Η Ένωση Κέντρου. Οι φιλελεύθεροι στην εξουσία;", in: Φιλελευθερισμός στην Ελλάδα. Φιλελεύθερη θεωρία και πρακτική στην πολιτική και στην κοινωνία της Ελλάδος, ed. Vivliopolion tis Estias, Athens, 1991, pp. 119–130.
- Liberal parties in Greece
- Defunct liberal political parties
- Defunct political parties in Greece
- 1960s in Greek politics
- 1970s in Greek politics
- Political parties established in 1961
- 1961 establishments in Greece
- Political parties disestablished in 1974
- 1974 disestablishments in Greece
- Centrist parties in Greece
- Centre Union