Centre Union

The Enosis Kendrou or Greek Center Union Ένωσις Κέντρου, abbreviated EK ), was the Greek centrist party in the 1960s. It was founded by Georgios Papandreou and Venizelos Sophoklis 1961. The party came in 1963 to the government.

Foundation in 1961

The Centre Union was formed by a merger of the Liberal Party, the Social Party and other smaller parties of the center under the leadership of Georgios Papandreou on September 19, 1961. She had no uniform ideological orientation, but rather belonged to her various political movements of the left middle ( Iliad Tsirimokos ) to right center ( Konstantinos Mitsotakis ) to. It was held together by the charismatic personality of Georgios Papandreou.

The Zentrumsumion first participated in the parliamentary elections in October 1961 and achieved a 33.66 % share of the vote and 100 seats; Election winner was the Ethniki Enosis Rizospastiki (ERE, National Radical Union) by Konstantinos Karamanlis with 50.81 % and 176 seats. These elections were characterized by violence and fraud. Papandreou called a " relentless struggle" from, in particular, the youth wing of the Center Union ( Οργάνωση Νέων της Ένωσης Κέντρου, Onek ) played an active role.

The second elections, in which the EC took part were the 3 November 1963. The party won 42.04 % and 138 seats, while the ERE was 39.37 % and 128 seats. Although the government under Georgios Papandreou with the support of Eniea Dimokratiki Aristera (Greek Ενιαία Δημοκρατική Αριστερά ΕΔΑ, Union of Democratic Left EDA ) received a vote of confidence, Papandreou pulled elections before because he wanted to avoid cooperation with the controlled by the communist KKE EDA to the ERE zuliefern no pretext to evoke the " communist threat " and jeopardize the already fragile political situation. This government is a " 50-day government" known.

In the election on 16 February 1964 scored the Center Union with a vote share of 52.72 % and 171 seats, compared to 35.26 % and 107 seats of the ERE under the leadership of Panagiotis Kanellopoulos in a landslide. Papandreou was able to form a government alone.

Loss of power in 1965

Papandreou's progressive policies as premier aroused much opposition in conservative circles, as well as the role of his son Andrew, whose political position was estimated as significantly left of center. Soon a lack of cohesion between the leaders of EK was clear. King Constantine II was working against Papandreou; with the help of defectors from the EK ( led by Konstantinos Mitsotakis ), succeeded Papandreou to oust the government power; he was forced to resign on 15 July 1965 as Prime Minister.

Unstable situation 1965 - 1967

A series of unstable governments and intensified political struggle ensued. The king granted the mandate to form a government first to Giorgos Athanasiadis - Novas, but the no confidence vote in the Parliament received and was forced to resign. A mandate to form a new government was then Ilias Tsirimokos granted, but which also was unsuccessful. Finally, Stephanos Stephanopoulos was asked to form a government, which could get a vote of confidence. Georgios Papandreou called again a " relentless struggle " and mobilized his supporters; also played the youth organization of EK, which now Greek Democratic Youth ( Ελληνική Δημοκρατική Νεολαία, EDIN ) called it, a particularly active role. The new government was forced under this pressure, to tender for new elections for May 1967.

To prevent the feared from her electoral victory Papandreou, crack on April 21, 1967, a military junta power in the state through a coup in itself. Their leaders were arrested on the night of 21 April 1967. Papandreou passed away on November 1, 1968 under house arrest.

After the dictatorship

The Centre Union was revived after the restoration of democracy under the leadership of Georgios Mavros and entered the first elections on 17 November 1974 after the military rule under the name of center Union / New forces again. Among her most prominent politicians belonged Alekos Panagoulis. In addition to the dominant political personality of Konstantinos Karamanlis ( New Democracy ) and increasingly the center-left for themselves engaging charismatic personality of Andreas Papandreou (PASOK ) their successes remained failed. You could win in the parliamentary elections in 1974 20,42 % and 60 of 300 seats. In the elections in 1977, it achieved under the name Union of the Democratic Centre ( EDIK ) or 11.95%.

  • Greek history ( 20th century)
  • Historic Party ( Greece)
  • Established in 1961
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