View source for Union of the Centre (2002)

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{EngvarB|date=February 2023}}
{{Short description|Italian political party}}
{{For|the historical party with the same name|Union of the Centre (1993)}}
{{Infobox political party
| name             = Union of the Centre
| native_name      = Unione di Centro
| logo             = [[File:Unione di Centro.svg|170px]]
| leader1_title    = Secretary
| leader1_name     = [[Antonio De Poli]]
| leader2_title    = President
| leader2_name     = [[Lorenzo Cesa]]
| abbreviation     = UDC
| foundation       = {{start date and age|2002|12|06|df=y}}
| dissolution      = 
| merger           = {{nowrap|[[Christian Democratic Centre]]<br />[[United Christian Democrats]]<br />[[European Democracy]]}}
| headquarters     = Via in Lucina 10, [[Rome]]
| youth_wing       = Giovani UDC
| membership_year  = 2016
| membership       = 50,000<ref name="LaNotizia">{{Cite web|url=http://www.lanotiziagiornale.it/ludc-si-spacca-e-lascia-per-strada-anche-il-fondatore-casini-non-rinnova-la-tessera-e-lascia-il-partito/|title=Casini lascia l'Udc, non rinnova la tessera|first=di Stefano|last=Iannaccone|date=31 May 2016}}</ref>
| ideology         = [[Christian democracy]]<ref name="CottaVerzichelli2007"/><ref name="Segatti2013"/><ref name="Parties-and-Elections"/><br />[[Social conservatism]]<ref name="Parties-and-Elections">{{cite web|url=http://www.parties-and-elections.eu/italy.html|title=Italy|website=Parties and Elections in Europe|first=Wolfram|last=Nordsieck|date=2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327123459/http://parties-and-elections.eu/italy.html|archive-date=27 March 2019|access-date=2 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Ignazi2008">{{cite book|author=Piero Ignazi|title=Partiti politici in Italia |year=2008|publisher=Il Mulino, Bologna|page=58}}</ref>
| position         = [[Centrism|Centre]]<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wMCuBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA145 |title=Governing Fear|via=google.it|isbn=9781845457839|last1=Baldini|first1=Gianfranco|last2=Cento Bull|first2=Anna |year=2009|publisher=Berghahn Books }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ansa.it/english/news/politics/2015/01/15/bookies-see-prodi-as-next-president_50c74771-86d4-4ddc-a48a-a9066c739951.html|title=Bookies see Prodi as next president|work=ANSA.it|date=15 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/english-version/2012-03-17/from-vasto-paris-uneasiness-022332_PRN.shtml|title=From Vasto to Paris: The Uneasiness of – Pierluigi Bersani, secretary of the – Il Sole 24 ORE|work=ilsole24ore.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150217033010/http://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/english-version/2012-03-17/from-vasto-paris-uneasiness-022332_PRN.shtml|archive-date=17 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/mario-monti-s-political-pragmatism-scores-points-in-italy-and-europe-a-822582.html|title=Mario Monti's Political Pragmatism Scores Points in Italy and Europe|date=20 March 2012|newspaper=Spiegel|location=Hamburg, Germany}}</ref> to<br />[[Centre-right politics|centre-right]]<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hYD0dKn1ncUC&pg=PA47 |title=I cattolici oltre la politica. Il senso della testimonianza|publisher={{Interlanguage link multi|Effatà|it}}|year=2010|language=it|isbn=9788874024322}}</ref><ref name="DonovanOnofri2008">{{cite book|author1=Mark Donovan|author2=Paolo Onofri|title=Frustrated Aspirations for Change|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oFhO7Uq9E-0C&pg=PA79|year=2008|publisher=Berghahn Books|isbn=978-1-84545-638-2|pages=70–80}}</ref>
| national         = [[Centre-right coalition (Italy)|Centre-right coalition]]
| international    = [[Centrist Democrat International]]
| european         = [[European People's Party]]
| europarl         = [[European People's Party group|European People's Party]] (2004–2019)
<!-- Values obtained from Wikidata; to edit, see https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q47781 -->
| seats1_title     = [[Chamber of Deputies (Italy)|Chamber of Deputies]]
| seats1           = {{Political party data|seat composition bar|ms-lower-house}}
| seats2_title     = [[Senate of the Republic (Italy)|Senate]]
| seats2           = {{Political party data|seat composition bar|ms-upper-house}}
| seats3_title     = [[European Parliament]]
| seats3           = {{Political party data|seat composition bar|EP}}
| seats4_title     = [[Composition of Regional Councils of Italy|Regional <br />Councils]]
| seats4           = {{Composition bar|6|896|hex={{party color|Union of the Centre (2002)}}}}
| seats5_title     = 
| seats5           = 
| website          = {{Political party data|website}}
| colorcode        = {{Political party data|color}}
| colors           = {{Color box|{{party color|Union of the Centre (2002)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Light blue]]
| country          = Italy
}}

The '''Union of the Centre''' ({{langx|it|Unione di Centro}}, '''UdC'''), whose complete name is '''Union of Christian Democrats and Centre Democrats''' (''Unione dei Democratici Cristiani e Democratici di Centro'', '''UDC'''),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.udc-italia.it/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/STATUTO_UDC.pdf|title=PDF file}}</ref> is a [[Christian democracy|Christian-democratic]]<ref name="CottaVerzichelli2007">{{cite book|author1=Maurizio Cotta|author2=Luca Verzichelli|title=Political Institutions in Italy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G-FAZHBDqggC&pg=PA40|access-date=16 July 2013|year=2007|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-928470-2|page=40}}</ref><ref name="Segatti2013">{{cite book|author=Paolo Segatti|chapter=Italy's Majoritarian Experiment: continuities and discontinuities in Italian electoral behaviour between the First and Second republics|editor1=Hideko Magara|editor2=Stefano Sacchi|title=The Politics of Structural Reforms: Social and Industrial Policy Change in Italy and Japan|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=beLDAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA113|year=2013|publisher=Edward Elgar Publishing|isbn=978-0-85793-293-8|page=111}}</ref><ref name="Parties-and-Elections"/> [[List of political parties in Italy|political party]] in [[Italy]].

[[Antonio De Poli]] is the party's current secretary, while [[Lorenzo Cesa]] its president. For years, [[Pier Ferdinando Casini]] was the most recognisable figure and ''de facto'' leader of the party, before eventually distancing from it in 2016. The UdC is a member of the [[European People's Party]] (EPP) and the [[Centrist Democrat International]] (CDI), of which Casini was president from 2004 to 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eiseverywhere.com/ereg/popups/speakerdetails.php?eventid=49201&speakerid=62329|title=Speaker details|website=www.eiseverywhere.com}}</ref><ref>[http://www.efe.com/efe/espana/mundo/andres-pastrana-nuevo-presidente-de-la-internacional-democrata-centro/10001-2662067 Andres Pastrana nuevo presidente de la internacional democrata centro], www.efe.com.</ref>

The party was formed as "Union of Christian and Centre Democrats" in December 2002 upon the merger of the [[Christian Democratic Centre]] (CCD), the [[United Christian Democrats]] (CDU) and [[European Democracy]] (DE). In 2008 the party was the driving force behind the "Union of the Centre" (UdC), an alliance comprising, among others, [[The Rose for Italy]] of [[Bruno Tabacci]] and [[Savino Pezzotta]], the [[Populars' Coordination|Populars]] of [[Ciriaco De Mita]] and the [[Liberal Foundation|Liberal Clubs]] of [[Ferdinando Adornato]]. Since then, the party's official name was neglected in favour of the alliance's and, since most of the UdC member parties have joined the UDC too, the UDC and the UdC started to overlap almost completely to the point that they are now indistinguishable.

The CCD was an early ally of [[Silvio Berlusconi]]'s [[Forza Italia (1994)|Forza Italia]] in 1994 and was part of the centre-right [[Pole for Freedoms|Pole]]/[[House of Freedoms]] since its establishment. Consequently, the UDC was consistently part of the centre-right until 2006. Later, it was affiliated neither to the centre-right nor the centre-left at the national level. Despite this, the party continued to take part in several regional, provincial and municipal governments with the old and the new [[Forza Italia (2013)|Forza Italia]], while forming alliances also with the centre-left [[Democratic Party (Italy)|Democratic Party]] in some regions and cities. In the [[2013 Italian general election|2013 general election]] the UdC was part of [[With Monti for Italy]], the coalition formed around [[Mario Monti]]'s [[Civic Choice]], and obtained a mere 1.8% of the vote, down from 5.6% in [[2008 Italian general election|2008]] and 6.8% in [[2006 Italian general election|2006]]. In December 2014 the party, which sat in [[Enrico Letta]]'s [[Letta Cabinet|government]] and [[Matteo Renzi]]'s [[Renzi Cabinet|government]] (2013–2016), formed [[Popular Area]] with [[Angelino Alfano]]'s [[New Centre-Right]]. In December 2016 the UdC left the alliance, did not join [[Paolo Gentiloni]]'s [[Gentiloni Cabinet|government]] and suffered the final split by Casini and his followers. The party has since returned into the [[Centre-right coalition (Italy)|centre-right coalition]]'s fold and took part to the [[2018 Italian general election|2018]] and [[2022 Italian general election|2022 general elections]] within centrist joint lists. More recently, the UdC distanced from Forza Italia and formed an alliance with the [[Lega (political party)|League]].

==History==

===Background===
[[File:Pierferdy Casini.jpg|thumb|right|150px|[[Pier Ferdinando Casini]]]]
In the [[2001 Italian general election]], the [[Christian Democratic Centre]] (CCD), led by [[Pier Ferdinando Casini]], and the [[United Christian Democrats]] (CDU), a 1995 split from the [[Italian People's Party (1994)|Italian People's Party]] (PPI) led by [[Rocco Buttiglione]] were part of the winning centre-right [[House of Freedoms]] coalition, but their joint list (informally known as [[White Flower]]) won a mere 3.2% of the vote (−2.6pp from [[1996 Italian general election|1996]]). In the event, the two parties suffered the competition of [[European Democracy]] (DE), led by [[Sergio D'Antoni]] and formed largely by further splinters from the PPI, which obtained 2.4% of the vote.

After the election, Casini was elected [[President of the Chamber of Deputies (Italy)|President of the Chamber of Deputies]] and was replaced by [[Marco Follini]] as secretary of the CCD. Soon after, [[Silvio Berlusconi]] appointed [[Carlo Giovanardi]] (CCD) and Buttiglione (CDU) as ministers in his [[Berlusconi II Cabinet|second government]].

A few months later, the CCD and the CDU jointly scored 19.7% of the vote in a [[2001 Sicilian regional election|regional election]] (+0.7pp from the [[1996 Sicilian regional election|previous regional election]]) in [[Sicily]], which was a stronghold for both parties, and [[Salvatore Cuffaro]] (CDU) was elected [[List of Presidents of Sicily|President of Sicily]] with a landslide 59.1% of the vote. DE won 4.5% of the vote and D'Antoni was elected to the [[Sicilian Regional Assembly]].

===Foundation and early years===
[[File:Marco Follini.JPG|thumb|right|150px|[[Marco Follini]]]]
On 6 December 2002, the CCD, the CDU and DE were merged into the "Union of Christian and Centre Democrats" (UDC). During the party's first congress, Follini was elected secretary, D'Antoni deputy secretary and Buttiglione president.

At the [[2004 European Parliament election in Italy|2004 European Parliament election]], the UDC won 5.9% of the vote and five [[Member of the European Parliament|MEPs]]. Consequently, the party successfully lobbied for Follini's appointment as Deputy Prime Minister in Berlusconi's government with the goal of strengthening and balancing the coalition, while diminishing the influence of the [[Lega Nord|Northern League]].

At the [[2005 Italian regional elections|2005 regional elections]], the UDC and the House of Freedoms faced a severe defeat by winning only two regions out of 14. Follini asked Berlusconi to resign and form a new government. In the new executive, Buttiglione became minister of Culture, while Follini stepped down from his previous post to concentrate on the party. On 15 October 2005 Follini suddenly resigned from his position as party secretary and was replaced on 27 October by [[Lorenzo Cesa]], an ally of Casini.

The party took part to the [[2006 Italian general election|2006 general election]] with a new logo, characterised by the inclusion of the name of Casini, who also headed party electoral lists in most constituencies. Despite the defeat of the House of Freedoms, the UDC improved its electoral performance by gaining 6.8% of the vote. In the following [[2006 Sicilian regional election|Sicilian regional election]] Cuffaro was re-elected President, but the UDC's share of the vote was reduced to 13.0%, due to two factors: the presence of president's list named after Cuffaro (which obtained 5.7% and elected mostly UdC members) and the strong showing of the [[Movement for Autonomy]] (MpA) (12.5%).

===Transition and splits===
[[File:Lorenzo Cesa daticamera.jpg|thumb|right|150px|[[Lorenzo Cesa]]]]
In October 2006, Follini, a harsh critic of Berlusconi, finally left the party to form a new grouping, called [[Middle Italy (political party)|Middle Italy]], which was eventually merged into the centre-left [[Democratic Party (Italy)|Democratic Party]] (PD) upon its foundation in October 2007. This was the fourth split suffered by the UDC in two years after three much bigger splits: the first led by [[Sergio D'Antoni]], who joined [[Democracy is Freedom – The Daisy|The Daisy]] in 2004; the second by [[Gianfranco Rotondi]], who launched the [[Christian Democracy for Autonomies]] (DCA) in 2005; the third by [[Raffaele Lombardo]], who formed the [[Sicily|Sicilian]]-based MpA later that year.

After the departure of Follini, however, Casini became highly critical of Berlusconi too and further distanced the UDC from him. A fifth major split happened at the end of January 2008 when [[Bruno Tabacci]] and [[Mario Baccini]] left the party because Casini seemed eager to re-join Berlusconi for the upcoming election, after that the [[Prodi II Cabinet]] had not passed through a vote of confidence. Shortly afterwards, when Casini refused to merge his party into Berlusconi's then-new political movement, [[The People of Freedom]] (PdL), the UDC was joined by [[The Rose for Italy]] of Tabacci, Baccini and [[Savino Pezzotta]], as well as by two leading members of [[Forza Italia (1994)|Forza Italia]] (FI), [[Ferdinando Adornato]] and [[Angelo Sanza]]. On the other side, the UDC was left by those who wanted to continue the alliance with Berlusconi: Giovanardi and his faction (the [[Liberal Populars]]) joined the PdL, citing that the 72% of UDC voters wanted the party to do so.<ref>"[http://www.corriere.it/politica/08_febbraio_04/giovanardi_udc_dimission_6ddf3a36-d331-11dc-8916-0003ba99c667.shtml Giovanardi lascia l'Udc per il Pdl]". [[Corriere della Sera]]. 4 February 2008.</ref> They were soon followed by many others.

===Union of the Centre===
On 28 February 2008, the UDC announced that it would contest the [[2008 Italian general election|2008 general election]] under the banner of the "Union of the Centre" (UdC), in alliance with The Rose for Italy and other smaller groups,<ref>"[http://www.corriere.it/politica/08_febbraio_28/accordo_rosa_bianca_udc_b9a97066-e60b-11dc-ab61-0003ba99c667.shtml Elezioni: accordo tra Rosa Bianca e Udc]". [[Corriere della Sera]]. 8 February 2008</ref><ref name="BaldiniBull2010">{{cite book|author1=Gianfranco Baldini|author2=[[Anna Cento Bull]]|title=Governing Fear|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wMCuBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA6|year=2010|publisher=Berghahn Books|isbn=978-1-84545-783-9|page=6}}</ref> notably including the [[Populars' Coordination|Populars]] around [[Ciriaco De Mita]], former leader of [[Christian Democracy (Italy)|Christian Democracy]] (DC),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2008/marzo/01/Ciriaco_presenta_stesso_con_Udc_co_9_080301098.shtml |title=Ciriaco si presenta lo stesso con l' Udc "Non troverà nessuno che la sostenga" |publisher=Archiviostorico.corriere.it |date=24 December 2009 |access-date=17 December 2010}}</ref> the [[Liberal Foundation|Liberal Clubs]], the [[Christian Democratic Party (Italy)|Christian Democratic Party]], [[Veneto for the European People's Party|Veneto for the EPP]], the [[Democratic Populars]] and the [[Autonomist Democrats]]. Despite having lost many votes to the PdL, the UDC was able to woo some new voters from the centre-left and gained 5.6% of the vote, 36 deputies (all UDC members but four) and three senators. Soon after the election, Baccini, one of the leaders of The Rose, surprisingly left the UdC to join the PdL.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lastampa.it/redazione/cmsSezioni/politica/200805articoli/32441girata.asp |title=L'Udc scappa di mano a Pierferdy |website=Lastampa.it |date=5 February 2008 |access-date=17 December 2010 |archive-date=24 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324124456/http://www1.lastampa.it/redazione/cmsSezioni/politica/200805articoli/32441girata.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref>

After the election, Casini relaunched his plan for a new "centrist" party, as an alternative to both the PdL and the PD. This is what he called the "party of the nation", open to "centrists", "Christian democrats", "liberals" and "reformers", even though he presented it as a party based on Christian values, as opposed both to the PD and the PdL, which, despite being a centre-right party, also included social-liberal factions.<ref name="udc-italia.it">{{Cite web |url=http://www.udc-italia.it/site_upload/articoli/3493d4cb677f6822f24baab79a8ae0ed.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=7 October 2009 |archive-date=16 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716215903/http://www.udc-italia.it/site_upload/articoli/3493d4cb677f6822f24baab79a8ae0ed.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adnkronos.com/IGN/Politica/?id=3.0.3179463035 |title=Adnkronos Politica |publisher=Adnkronos.com |access-date=17 December 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilTYmV6R74M |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/ilTYmV6R74M |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=Verso il Partito della Nazione: Casini, siamo noi l'alternativa vera |publisher=YouTube |date=4 April 2009 |access-date=17 December 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Casini long criticised the PdL for not being "Catholic" enough, particularly criticising Berlusconi, who once spoke of "anarchy of values" in describing the [[big tent|catch-all]] nature of the PdL,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.brunotabacci.it/rassegnapdf2/6119.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=6 January 2015 |archive-date=15 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215004623/http://www.brunotabacci.it/rassegnapdf2/6119.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> and [[Gianfranco Fini]], who was known for his social-liberal stance on [[Stem cell|stem-cell]] research, [[abortion]] and right-to-die issues,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2009/aprile/05/Casini_all_attacco_Fini_sul_co_8_090405016.shtml |title=Casini all' attacco di Fini E sul Pd: i dc scelgano noi |publisher=Archiviostorico.corriere.it |date=24 December 2009 |access-date=17 December 2010}}</ref> and explicitly wooed the "Christian democrats of the PD" to join him.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wallstreetitalia.com/articolo.asp?art_id=691101 |title=notizie di economia, finanza, borsa, mercato, euro e petrolio |publisher=Wall Street Italia |access-date=17 December 2010}}</ref>

In the [[2009 European Parliament election in Italy|2009 European Parliament election]], the UdC won 6.5% of the vote and five of its candidates were elected to the [[European Parliament]], including De Mita and [[Magdi Allam]]. In the [[2010 Italian regional elections|2010 regional elections]], the UdC chose to form alliances both with the centre-right and the centre-left (or stood alone) in different regions, depending on local conditions,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2009/settembre/12/Udc_lancia_sua_sfida_Accordi_co_9_090912025.shtml |title=L' Udc lancia la sua sfida "Accordi mirati con Pdl e Pd oppure andremo da soli" |publisher=Archiviostorico.corriere.it |date=24 December 2009 |access-date=17 December 2010}}</ref> losing ground everywhere but in those southern regions where it was in alliance with the centre-right.

===Centre-left coalitions===
In December 2010, the UdC was a founding member of the [[New Pole for Italy]] (NPI), along with [[Future and Freedom]] (FLI) and the [[Alliance for Italy]].<ref>[http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2010/dicembre/16/Nasce_Polo_della_nazione_co_9_101216008.shtml Nasce il Polo della nazione]. Archiviostorico.corriere.it. Retrieved on 24 August 2013.</ref><ref>[http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2011/gennaio/29/Fini_dimissioni_Opzione_che_non_co_8_110129029.shtml Fini: dimissioni? Opzione che non esiste E Bossi invita ad «abbassare i toni»]. Archiviostorico.corriere.it. Retrieved on 24 August 2013.</ref> The NPI alliance was short-lived and the three parties, which were supporters of [[Mario Monti]]'s [[Monti Cabinet|technocratic government]] in 2011–2013, parted ways. In 2012 the UdC suffered the split of another Sicilian-based group, [[Cantiere Popolare]] (CP), which would be a strong competitor for the party in Sicily, along with the evergreen MpA.

The UdC contested the [[2013 Italian general election|2013 general election]] as part of the [[With Monti for Italy]] coalition, alongside FLI and Monti's [[Civic Choice]] (SC). The election was a huge defeat for the UdC, which obtained a mere 1.8% of the vote, eight deputies and two senators. After the election, the party joined [[Enrico Letta]]'s [[Letta Cabinet|government]] with [[Gianpiero D'Alia]] as minister of Public Administration (2013–2014) and [[Matteo Renzi]]'s [[Renzi Cabinet|government]] with [[Gianluca Galletti]] as minister of the Environment (2014–2016).

In February 2014, during the party's fourth congress, Cesa was narrowly re-elected secretary over D'Alia, who was then elected president.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.formiche.net/2014/02/23/udc-cesa-casini/|title=Udc, ecco come Cesa ha vinto di un soffio su D'Alia - Formiche.net|work=Formiche.net|date=23 February 2014}}</ref>

The UdC ran in the [[2014 European Parliament election in Italy|2014 European Parliament election]] on a [[New Centre-Right – Union of the Centre|joint list]] with the [[New Centre-Right]] (NCD), a mainly Christian-democratic outfit emerged from a split from the PdL in its final days. The list obtained 4.4% of the vote and three MEPs, two for the NCD and one for the UdC.

In December 2014, the alliance with the NCD was strengthened with the formation of the [[Popular Area]] (AP) joint parliamentary groups.

===Re-foundation===
[[File:Antonio De Poli datisenato 2018.jpg|thumb|right|150px|[[Antonio De Poli]]]]
In 2016, Casini did not renew his membership to the party, which was thus deprived of its most recognisable leader. Additionally, while still being part of the government and AP, the UdC chose not to support the "yes" in the [[2016 Italian constitutional referendum|2016 constitutional referendum]] and to distance from the NCD, rejecting any notion of a joint party.<ref name="LaNotizia"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ilgiornale.it/news/politica/ludc-scarica-alfano-e-casini-lascia-1266096.html|title=L'Udc scarica Alfano. E Casini lascia|first=Roberto|last=Scafuri|website=ilGiornale.it|date=June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.corriere.it/politica/referendum-riforma-costituzionale/notizie/casini-renzi-cambi-spartito-deve-unire-non-puo-solo-dividere-8fd4ecde-38af-11e6-af01-13e8abfd5afa.shtml|title=Casini: "Renzi cambi spartito. Deve unire, non può solo dividere"|date=22 June 2016|website=Corriere della Sera}}</ref> In the run-up of the referendum the party was also abandoned by president D'Alia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://messina.gazzettadelsud.it/articoli/archivio/2016/11/02/cesa-lo-sospende-d-alia-mi-dimetto-io--2ec61d08-6128-4304-b422-a246aa9a0941/|title=Cesa lo sospende, D'Alia: "Mi dimetto io"|website=Gazzetta del Sud|date=2 November 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.inchiestasicilia.com/2016/11/07/guerra-interna-alludc-dalia-lascia-il-partito/|title=Guerra interna all'UDC, D'Alia lascia il partito|date=7 November 2016}}</ref> After the referendum, which saw a huge defeat of the "yes" side, the UdC left AP altogether, but, other than Casini and D'Alia, the party lost another deputy and, more important, minister Galletti.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2016/12/06/area-popolare-si-spacca-dopo-il-referendum-udc-lesperienza-forse-mai-decollata-si-conclude-qui/3241732/|title=Area Popolare si spacca dopo il referendum. Udc: "L'esperienza, forse mai decollata, si conclude qui"|date=6 December 2016|website=Il Fatto Quotidiano}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ilgiornale.it/news/politica/fuggi-fuggi-senato-i-centristi-guardano-fi-e-alfano-resta-1339873.html|title=Fuggi fuggi al Senato: i centristi guardano a Fi. E Alfano resta da solo|first=Silvia|last=Cocuzza|website=ilGiornale.it|date=7 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ilgiornaleditalia.org/news/politica/883499/-Alfano-succube-di-Renzi-.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161207170147/http://www.ilgiornaleditalia.org/news/politica/883499/-Alfano-succube-di-Renzi-.html |archive-date=7 December 2016 |title="Alfano succube di Renzi, ce ne andiamo" - giornaleditalia}}</ref> [[Antonio De Poli]] replaced D'Alia as president.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.udc-italia.it/udc-de-poli-eletto-presidente-del-partito/|title=Udc: De Poli eletto presidente del partito &#124; UDC Italia|date=20 December 2016|access-date=4 January 2017|archive-date=4 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104170025/http://www.udc-italia.it/udc-de-poli-eletto-presidente-del-partito/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nuovavenezia.gelocal.it/regione/2016/12/21/news/il-senatore-de-poli-eletto-presidente-nazionale-dell-udc-1.14603659|title=Il senatore De Poli eletto presidente nazionale dell'Udc|date=22 December 2016|website=La Nuova di Venezia}}</ref>

In 2017, the UdC was joined by three senators from other parties.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/politica/2017/02/09/senato-ala-perde-pezzi-2-vanno-a-udc_dbf139cb-9aa1-4dc9-b2ef-cd41fd932540.html|title=Senato: Ala perde pezzi, 2 vanno a Udc – Politica|date=9 February 2017|website=ANSA.it}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.siciliainformazioni.com/redazione/548134/grandi-manovre-corso-al-senato-verdini-alfano-perdono-pezzi |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170209200658/http://www.siciliainformazioni.com/redazione/548134/grandi-manovre-corso-al-senato-verdini-alfano-perdono-pezzi |archive-date=9 February 2017 |title=Grandi manovre in corso al senato, Verdini e Alfano perdono pezzi - Siciliainformazioni}}</ref> The party's new course was marked also by the return of Follini.<ref>formiche.net/2017/03/10/tutte-le-voglie-neodc-delludc-cesa</ref> For the [[2017 Sicilian regional election]], the UdC re-joined the centre-right at the regional level.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.udc-italia.it/sicilia-udc-nessuna-fibrillazione-cesa-lavora-a-unita-centrodestra|title=Sicilia: Udc, nessuna fibrillazione, Cesa lavora a unità centrodestra &#124; UDC Italia|date=25 August 2017|access-date=4 September 2017|archive-date=18 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018173012/https://www.udc-italia.it/sicilia-udc-nessuna-fibrillazione-cesa-lavora-a-unita-centrodestra/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The decision led some leading former UdC members in Sicily to return into the party's fold, but was criticised by the party's deputy secretary [[Giuseppe De Mita]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.italiaoggi.it/giornali/dettaglio_giornali.asp?preview=false&accessMode=FA&id=2206376&codiciTestate=1&titolo=De%20Mita%20junior%20spacca%20l%27Udc|title=De Mita junior spacca l'Udc – ItaliaOggi.it}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> his uncle Ciriaco and Follini, who would jointly launch [[Italy Is Popular]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2017/11/11/de-mita-jr-chiude-a-berlusconi-e-da-laddio-alludc-non-esiste-piuNapoli04.html|title=De Mita jr chiude a Berlusconi e dà l'addio all'Udc|website=Archivio – la Repubblica.it|date=11 November 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://corrieredelmezzogiorno.corriere.it/napoli/politica/17_novembre_06/i-de-mita-radunano-fedelissimi-cesa-punta-mocerino-gargani-580e42a2-c321-11e7-b6ac-dc5d5d317d53.shtml|title=I De Mita radunano i fedelissimiE Cesa punta su Mocerino e Gargani|first=Angelo|last=Agrippa|date=11 June 2017|website=Corriere della Sera}}</ref> lead it into the [[Popular Civic List]] and join the [[Centre-left coalition (Italy)|centre-left coalition]].

===Centre-right coalition===
In the run-up of the [[2018 Italian general election|2018 general election]], the UdC officially re-joined the [[Centre-right coalition (Italy)|centre-right coalition]] also at the national level, aiming at teaming up with other Christian-democratic parties, notably including the [[Union of Democrats for Europe]] (UDEUR),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ansa.it/campania/notizie/2017/12/16/a-napoli-mastella-presenta-udeur-2_0684a7dc-45aa-448f-ad29-36f9667703b9.html|title=A Napoli Mastella presenta Udeur 2 – Campania|date=16 December 2017|website=ANSA.it}}</ref> as well as the [[Italian Liberal Party (1997)|Italian Liberal Party]] (PLI) and [[Energies for Italy]] (EpI).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.affaritaliani.it/politica/centrodestra-udc-e-pli-lavorano-alla-quinta-gamba-516014.html|title=Centrodestra, Udc e Pli lavorano alla 'quinta gamba'|website=Affaritaliani.it|date=20 December 2017 }}</ref> Thus, the UdC joined [[Us with Italy]] (NcI),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.affaritaliani.it/milano/udc-noi-con-italia-accordo-sulla-lista-torna-lo-scudo-crociato-517050.html|title=Udc-Noi con l'Italia, è accordo. Sulla lista torna lo scudo crociato|website=Affaritaliani.it|date=29 December 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.corriere.it/politica/17_dicembre_30/gentiloni-berlusconi-lornzin-casini-pd-margherita-civica-popolare-simbolo-votazioni-nasce-stampella-centrista-forza-italia-c6bba08c-ecfc-11e7-ba29-fb1d66cc2503.shtml|title=Nasce la stampella centrista di Forza Italia|first=Giuseppe Alberto|last=Falci|date=30 December 2017|website=Corriere della Sera}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ilgiornale.it/news/politica/berlusconi-si-appella-ai-delusi-politica-sar-sfida-coi-5-1478798.html|title=Berlusconi si appella ai delusi dalla politica: "Sarà sfida coi 5 Stelle"|first=Anna Maria|last=Greco|website=ilGiornale.it|date=30 December 2017}}</ref> a pro-Berlusconi centrist electoral list formed by AP splinters (two groups, a Christian-democratic one led by [[Maurizio Lupi]] and a liberal one led by [[Enrico Costa (politician)|Enrico Costa]]), [[Direction Italy]] (DI), [[Civic Choice]] (SC), [[Act! (Italy)|Act!]], CP and the MpA,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2017/12/19/news/listone_centristi_pro_berlusconi-184566329/|title=Nasce "Noi con l'Italia", la lista dei centristi pro-Berlusconi|date=19 December 2017|website=Repubblica.it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2017/12/19/noi-con-litalia-ecco-la-quarta-gamba-del-centrodestra-ex-fi-leghisti-espulsi-e-alfaniani-pentiti-rinasce-lamore-per-berlusconi/4049201 |title = "Noi con l'Italia", ecco la quarta gamba del centrodestra: Ex FI, leghisti espulsi e alfaniani pentiti|date = 19 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ilgiornale.it/news/politica/nasce-noi-litalia-quarta-gamba-centrodestra-1475804.html|title=Nasce Noi con l'Italia, la 'quarta gamba' del centrodestra|first=Francesco|last=Curridori|website=ilGiornale.it|date=19 December 2017}}</ref> with the goal of reaching 3%, required to win seats from proportional lists under a new electoral law. NcI was later joined also by IdeA,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.affaritaliani.it/puglia/la-tela-fitto-cesa-si-allarga-su-idea-di-gaetano-quagliariello-517848.html|title=La tela Fitto-Cesa si allarga su 'Idea' di Gaetano Quagliariello|website=Affaritaliani.it|date=5 January 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://formiche.net/2018/01/saremo-garantire-lautosufficienza-al-centrodestra-parla-gaetano-quagliariello/|title=Saremo noi a garantire l'autosufficienza al centrodestra. Parla Gaetano Quagliariello|date=5 January 2018|website=Formiche.net}}</ref> UdC's partner in the Chamber of Deputies. In the election, the NcI obtained a mere 1.3% of the vote and the UdC had three senators elected from single-seat constituencies: De Poli, [[Paola Binetti]] and [[Antonio Saccone]]. Soon after the election, the party quit NcI and formed a pact with FI.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.udc-italia.it/c-destra-de-poli-udc-corriamo-insieme-per-costruire-ppe-italiano-priorita-lavoro-imprese-e-giovani|title=Centrodestra: De Poli (Udc), corriamo insieme per costruire Ppe italiano, priorità lavoro imprese e giovani &#124; UDC Italia|date=23 March 2018|access-date=27 March 2018|archive-date=10 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010064405/https://www.udc-italia.it/c-destra-de-poli-udc-corriamo-insieme-per-costruire-ppe-italiano-priorita-lavoro-imprese-e-giovani/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In the run-up of the [[2022 Italian general election|2022 general election]], the UdC first formed a joint list with [[Coraggio Italia]] (CI),<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.adnkronos.com/elezioni-2022-ecco-simbolo-udc-coraggio-italia-nome-brugnaro-e-scudocrociato-per-lista-unica_6R6J4BTU4PjpAR65mkTJgA?refresh_ce | title=Elezioni 2022, ecco simbolo Udc-Coraggio Italia: Nome 'Brugnaro' e scudocrociato per lista unica | date=5 August 2022 }}</ref> then it was a founding member of [[Us Moderates]] (NM), a broader joint list within the centre-right coalition, along with CI, NcI and [[Italy in the Centre]] (IaC).<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.adnkronos.com/elezioni-2022-nasce-noi-moderati-lista-unica-dei-centristi-di-centrodestra_3xK5misvGdw419cYANAknV | title=Elezioni 2022, nasce 'Noi moderati' lista unica dei centristi di centrodestra | date=11 August 2022 }}</ref>

In the run-up of the [[2024 European Parliament election in Italy|2024 European Parliament election]], the UdC joined forces with the [[Lega (political party)|League]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.corriere.it/politica/24_febbraio_03/europee-lega-si-muove-centro-candida-recordman-preferenze-patriciello-252d9a94-c2d0-11ee-97f1-40ebc5b696dc.shtml | title=Europee, la Lega si muove al centro e candida il recordman di preferenze Patriciello | date=2 March 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rainews.it/tgr/molise/video/2024/02/lega-e-udc-insieme-per-le-prossime-europee-7ae268d0-f1ee-4599-950e-ed8c53e7e27e.html | title=Lega e UDC insieme per le prossime europee | date=3 February 2024 }}</ref>

In July 2025 Cesa stepped down from secretary after 20 years and the party's national council elected De Poli to succeed him.<ref>{{cite web | title=Udc: De Poli nuovo segretario, Cesa presidente | date=11 July 2025 | url=https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2025/07/11/news/de_poli_nuovo_segretario_udc_cesa-424725626 }}</ref>

==Ideology==
Although it is the most vocal supporter of [[social conservatism]] in Italy (opposition to [[abortion]], [[euthanasia]], [[same-sex marriage]], [[LGBT adoption]] and [[legality of cannabis]] are some of its main concerns) and can be easily connected with the [[Christian right]], the UdC is usually identified with the [[centrism|political centre]] in Italy, thanks to its roots in the [[Christian Democracy (Italy)|Christian Democracy]] (DC).

However, ''[[The Economist]]'' once described it as a [[right-wing politics|right-wing]], sometimes [[reactionary]] party, which "stretches a long way from the centre". Moreover, it wrote that many UDC members are "diehard corporatists who [...] get most of their votes from the south, where many households depend either on welfare or on public-sector employment".<ref>"[http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_id=8786234 Prodi resurrected—for now]". [[The Economist]]. 1 March 2007.</ref> Indeed, the party is stronger in the South and especially in [[Sicily]], where public-sector employment is widely spread.

The UDC was an independent-minded and often reluctant member of the [[House of Freedoms]] coalition from 2002 to 2008. The party's leading figure, [[Pier Ferdinando Casini]], was critical of [[Silvio Berlusconi]]'s leadership over the Italian centre-right and presented himself as a moderate alternative to [[populism]], which, in his view, denoted the alliance between [[The People of Freedom]] (PdL) and the [[Lega Nord|Northern League]]. UDC's main goal, similarly to that of the [[Democratic Movement (France)|Democratic Movement]] in [[France]], has been to form governments beyond the left-right divide (e.g.: [[Monti Cabinet]] and [[Letta Cabinet]]) and, possibly, reassembling the remnants of the old DC and control Italian politics from the centre. In this respect, Casini and his followers have long tried to form the nucleus of a third force in Italian politics (e.g.: [[New Pole for Italy]], [[With Monti for Italy]], [[Popular Area]]).

This "centrist option" has not succeeded yet: the UdC has remained a much lighter force compared to Berlusconi's parties ([[Forza Italia (1994)|Forza Italia]], the PdL and finally the new [[Forza Italia (2013)|Forza Italia]]), which have drawn most former DC voters, and Italians like confrontational politics based on alternative coalitions and many would support a two-party system, in place of the typically Italian fragmented political spectrum.<ref>"[http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_id=8382057 A plague on both your houses]". [[The Economist]]. 7 December 2006.</ref> Finally, several political scientists think that the return of DC is all but likely as the "political unity of Catholics" (the core idea on which DC was based) is not repeatable and it would be anti-historical to try uniting all strains of political Catholicism in a single party.

Moreover, although UdC members are keen on presenting themselves as moderates, their solid social conservatism has harmed their prospects, while FI/PdL/FI has been popular also among secularised middle-class voters. Knowing that, Casini tried to open his party, through the UdC, also to non-Christian-democratic "centrists", "liberals" and "reformers", while wooing former DC members affiliated with other parties, especially the PdL and the centre-left [[Democratic Party (Italy)|Democratic Party]] (PD).<ref name="udc-italia.it"/> After Casini's exit from the party in 2016, the UdC is likely to return to its traditional Christian-democratic roots, as declared by Cesa in a speech to the party's national council.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.udc-italia.it/intervento-del-segretario-nazionale-lorenzo-cesa-al-consiglio-nazionale-udc/|title=Intervento del segretario nazionale Lorenzo Cesa al Consiglio Nazionale Udc &#124; UDC Italia|date=20 December 2016}}</ref>

On specific issues, it is relevant to state that the UdC is one of the main supporters of [[nuclear power|nuclear energy]] in the Italian political arena.<ref>"[http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2007/settembre/13/Riprendiamo_subito_strada_del_nucleare_co_9_070913004.shtml Riprendiamo subito la strada del nucleare]". [[Corriere della Sera]]. 13 September 2007.</ref>

==Factions==
{{more citations needed |date=January 2015}}
At the 2007 national congress, there were basically four factions within the party.
*'''Casiniani'''. Led by [[Pier Ferdinando Casini]], [[Lorenzo Cesa]] and [[Rocco Buttiglione]], the faction included also [[Mario Tassone]] (co-leader with Buttiglione of a sub-group composed of former members of the [[United Christian Democrats]] (CDU), which controlled more than 15% of party delegates),<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web|url=http://www.mascellaro.it/node/12045|title=Nel puzzle Udc si agita anche il Cdu|work= mascellaro.it|date= 5 April 2007|language=it}}</ref> [[Michele Vietti]], [[Luca Volontè]], [[Francesco D'Onofrio (politician)|Francesco D'Onofrio]], [[Maurizio Ronconi]], [[Francesco Bosi]] and [[Antonio De Poli]], and gained the support of at least 45% of party members.
*'''Tabaccini'''. This group, which had the support of the 30% of party members,<ref name=autogenerated1 /> was basically the left-wing of the party, including leading politicians such as [[Bruno Tabacci]], [[Mario Baccini]] and [[Armando Dionisi]], who were formerly close allies of [[Marco Follini]]. They proposed to start a co-operation with the [[Democratic Party (Italy)|Democratic Party]] (PD) or the formation of a centrist party open to figures like [[Luca Cordero di Montezemolo]] and [[Mario Monti]].
*'''Cuffariani'''. This third group consisted in the [[Southern Italy|southern]] faction of [[Salvatore Cuffaro]], former President of [[Sicily]] and was somewhat critical of the centralist-styled leadership of the party. This group, which included [[Calogero Mannino]], [[Francesco Saverio Romano]], [[Giuseppe Naro]] and [[Giuseppe Drago]], held the 10% of the party delegates and supported the Casini-Cesa line,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.noipress.it/regionale/dettaglioNews.asp?ID_NEWS=1023|title=NoiPress.it 12 April 2007 19:31 – Congresso nazionale: la nota di Cuffaro ai delegati siciliani|access-date=16 April 2007|archive-date=28 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928132853/http://www.noipress.it/regionale/dettaglioNews.asp?ID_NEWS=1023|url-status=dead}}</ref> although its members had been often friendlier to Berlusconi. In September 2010 most ''Cuffariani'', led by Romano, left the UDC to form [[The Populars of Italy Tomorrow]] (PID) and support the [[Berlusconi IV Cabinet]].
*'''Giovanardiani'''. It was the group led by [[Carlo Giovanardi]] and [[Emerenzio Barbieri]], who wanted closer ties with [[Forza Italia (1994)|Forza Italia]] and the other parties of the [[House of Freedoms]] coalition, including the [[Lega Nord|Northern League]]. At the congress, the bid of Giovanardi for the leadership was supported by 13.8% of delegates.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.carlogiovanardi.it/sito/modules.php?name=News&file=print&sid=300|title=Carlo Giovanardi – 3|work=carlogiovanardi.it}}</ref> Before leaving the UDC in February 2008 to join the PdL, Giovanardi and Barbieri organised their faction as [[Liberal Populars]].

The three main schisms suffered by the party between 2004 and 2006, [[Middle Italy (political party)|Middle Italy]] (IdM), [[Movement for the Autonomies|Movement for Autonomy]] (MpA) and [[Christian Democracy for Autonomies]] (DCA), were led by the most vocal supporters of each of the last three factions mentioned above, respectively Marco Follini, [[Raffaele Lombardo]] and [[Gianfranco Rotondi]]. By 2010 virtually all ''Giovanardiani'' and ''Cuffariani'' had left the party through the Liberal Populars and the PID.

==Popular support==
The UDC/UdC has been historically stronger in the [[Southern Italy|South]] and in regional elections.

The electoral results of the UDC/UdC in the 10 most populated [[regions of Italy]] are shown in the table below.

The score for the 2006 Sicilian regional election refers to the combined result of the UDC (13.0) and of ''L'Aquilone–Lista del Presidente'' (5.7%), the personal list of [[Salvatore Cuffaro]], UDC regional leader and [[List of Presidents of Sicily|President of Sicily]]. The elected members of this list were mostly UDC members.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
| ||'''2004 European'''||'''2005 regional'''||'''2006 general'''||'''2008 general'''||'''2009 European'''||'''2010 regional'''||'''2013 general'''||'''2015 regional'''
|-
|'''Piedmont'''||5.0||4.6||6.2||5.2||6.1||3.9||1.2||- <small>(2014)</small>
|-
|'''Lombardy'''||3.6||3.8||5.9||4.3||5.0||3.8||1.1||- <small>(2013)</small>
|-
|'''Veneto'''||5.0||6.4||7.8||5.6||6.4||4.9||1.7||-
|-
|'''Emilia-Romagna'''||2.8||3.9||5.8||4.3||4.7||3.8||1.1||- <small>(2014)</small>
|-
|'''Tuscany'''||3.3||3.7||5.9||4.2||4.6||4.8||1.1||-
|-
|'''Lazio'''||7.1||7.8||6.9||4.8||5.5||6.1||1.5||- <small>(2013)</small>
|-
|'''Campania'''||7.0||6.7||6.8||6.5||8.7||9.4||3.6||2.4
|-
|'''Apulia'''||8.1||7.8||7.8||7.9||9.1||6.5||2.0||5.9
|-
|'''Calabria'''||9.6||10.4||7.7||8.2||9.3||9.4||4.1||2.7
|-
|'''Sicily'''||14.0||18.7 <small>(2006)</small>||10.0||9.4||11.9||12.5 <small>(2008)</small>||2.8||10.8 <small>(2012)</small><br /> 7.1 <small>(2017)</small>
|-
|'''Italy'''||'''5.9'''||'''-'''||'''6.8'''||'''5.6'''||'''6.5'''||'''-'''||'''1.8'''||'''-'''
|}

==Election results==

===Italian Parliament===
{| class=wikitable style="width:50%; border:1px #AAAAFF solid"
|-
| colspan=6|[[Chamber of Deputies (Italy)|Chamber of Deputies]]
|-
! width=13%|Election year
! width=16%|Votes
! width=6%|% 
! width=1%|Seats
! width=8%|+/−
! width=18%|Leader
|-
! [[2006 Italian general election|2006]]
| 2,580,190 (4th)
| 6.8 
| {{Composition bar|39|630|hex={{party color|Union of the Centre (2008)}}}}
| {{center|–}}
| {{center|[[Pier Ferdinando Casini]]}}
|-
! [[2008 Italian general election|2008]]
| 2,050,309 (4th)
| 5.6
| {{Composition bar|36|630|hex={{party color|Union of the Centre (2008)}}}}
|  {{center|{{decrease}} 3}}
| {{center|[[Pier Ferdinando Casini]]}}
|-
! [[2013 Italian general election|2013]]
| 608,199 (9th)
| 1.8
| {{Composition bar|8|630|hex={{party color|Union of the Centre (2008)}}}}
| {{center|{{decrease}} 28}}
| {{center|[[Pier Ferdinando Casini]]}}
|-
! [[2018 Italian general election|2018]]
| into [[Us with Italy]]
| 1.3
| {{Composition bar|0|630|hex={{party color|Union of the Centre (2008)}}}}
| {{center|{{decrease}} 8}}
| {{center|[[Lorenzo Cesa]]}}
|-
! [[2022 Italian general election|2022]]
| into [[Us Moderates]]
| 0.9
| {{Composition bar|1|400|hex={{party color|Union of the Centre (2008)}}}}
| {{center|{{increase}} 1}}
| {{center|[[Lorenzo Cesa]]}}
|}

{| class=wikitable style="width:50%; border:1px #AAAAFF solid"
|-
| colspan=6|[[Senate of the Republic (Italy)|Senate of the Republic]]
|-
! width=13%|Election year
! width=16%|Votes
! width=6%|% 
! width=1%|Seats
! width=8%|+/−
! width=18%|Leader
|-
! [[2006 Italian general election|2006]]
| 2,309,442 (6th)
| 6.8
| {{Composition bar|21|315|hex={{party color|Union of the Centre (2008)}}}}
| {{center|–}}
| {{center|[[Pier Ferdinando Casini]]}}
|-
! [[2008 Italian general election|2008]]
| 1,898,842 (4th)
| 5.7
| {{Composition bar|3|315|hex={{party color|Union of the Centre (2008)}}}}
|  {{center|{{decrease}} 18}}
| {{center|[[Pier Ferdinando Casini]]}}
|-
! [[2013 Italian general election|2013]]
| into [[With Monti for Italy|Monti for Italy]]
| –
| {{Composition bar|2|315|hex={{party color|Union of the Centre (2008)}}}}
|  {{center|{{decrease}} 1}}
| {{center|[[Pier Ferdinando Casini]]}}
|-
! [[2018 Italian general election|2018]]
| into [[Us with Italy]]
| 1.2
| {{Composition bar|3|315|hex={{party color|Union of the Centre (2008)}}}}
| {{center|{{increase}} 1}}
| {{center|[[Lorenzo Cesa]]}}
|-
! [[2022 Italian general election|2022]]
| into [[Us Moderates]]
| 0.9
| {{Composition bar|1|200|hex={{party color|Union of the Centre (2008)}}}}
| {{center|{{decrease}} 2}}
| {{center|[[Lorenzo Cesa]]}}
|}

===European Parliament===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! Election 
! Leader 
! Votes 
! % 
! Seats 
! +/– 
! EP Group
|-
! [[2004 European Parliament election in Italy|2004]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Pier Ferdinando Casini]]
| 1,914,726 (5th)
| 5.9
| {{Composition bar|5|72|hex={{party color|Union of the Centre (2008)}}}}
| New
| rowspan="3" |[[European People's Party Group|EPP]]
|-
! [[2009 European Parliament election in Italy|2009]]
| 1,995,021 (5th)
| 6.5
| {{Composition bar|5|72|hex={{party color|Union of the Centre (2008)}}}}
| {{steady}} 0
|-
! [[2014 European Parliament election in Italy|2014]]{{efn|Run in a joint list with [[New Centre-Right]].}}
| rowspan="3" |[[Lorenzo Cesa]]
| 1,202,350 (5th)
| 4.4
| {{Composition bar|1|73|hex={{party color|Union of the Centre (2008)}}}}
| {{decrease}} 4
|-
! [[2019 European Parliament election in Italy|2019]]
| colspan="2" |Into [[Forza Italia (2013)|Forza Italia]]
| {{Composition bar|0|73|hex={{party color|Union of the Centre (2008)}}}}
| {{decrease}} 1
| rowspan="2" |–
|-
! [[2024 European Parliament election in Italy|2024]]
| colspan="2" |Into [[Lega (political party)|Lega]]
| {{Composition bar|0|73|hex={{party color|Union of the Centre (2008)}}}}
| {{steady}} 0
|}
{{Notelist}}

===Regional Councils===
{|class=wikitable style="border:1px #AAAAFF solid"
|-
!width=150px|Region
!width=100px|Election year
!width=100px|Votes
!width=100px|% 
!width=100px|Seats
!width=50px|+/−
!width=100px|Status in legislature
|-
! [[Aosta Valley]]
! [[2025 Valdostan regional election|2025]]
| {{N/A}}
| {{N/A}}
| {{Composition bar|0|35|hex={{party color|Union of the Centre (2002)}}}}
| {{center|–}}
| style="background:#ddd; text-align:center"| No seats
|-
! [[Piedmont]]
! [[2024 Piedmontese regional election|2024]]
| With [[Forza Italia (2013)|Forza Italia]]
| –
| {{Composition bar|0|50|hex={{party color|Union of the Centre (2002)}}}}
| {{center|–}}
| style="background:#ddd; text-align:center"| No seats
|-
! [[Lombardy]]
! [[2023 Lombard regional election|2023]]
| Into [[Us Moderates]]  
| –
| {{Composition bar|0|80|hex={{party color|Union of the Centre (2002)}}}}
| {{center|–}}
| style="background:#ddd; text-align:center"| No seats
|-
! [[South Tyrol]]
! [[2023 Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol provincial elections#South Tyrol|2023]]
| {{N/A}}
| {{N/A}}
| {{Composition bar|0|35|hex={{party color|Union of the Centre (2002)}}}}
| {{center|–}}
| style="background:#ddd; text-align:center"| No seats
|-
! [[Trentino]]
! [[2023 Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol provincial elections#Trentino|2023]]
| 1,362
| 0.6
| {{Composition bar|0|35|hex={{party color|Union of the Centre (2002)}}}}
| {{center|–}}
| style="background:#ddd; text-align:center"| No seats
|-
! [[Veneto]]
! [[2020 Venetian regional election|2020]]
| Into [[Forza Italia (2013)|Forza Italia]]
| –
| {{Composition bar|0|51|hex={{party color|Union of the Centre (2002)}}}}
| {{center|{{decrease}} 3}}
| style="background:#ddd; text-align:center"| No seats
|-
! [[Friuli-Venezia Giulia]]
! [[2023 Friuli-Venezia Giulia regional election|2023]]
| Into Fedriga list  
| –
| {{Composition bar|1|49|hex={{party color|Union of the Centre (2002)}}}}
| {{center|{{increase}} 1}}
| {{yes2|Majority}}
|-
! [[Emilia-Romagna]]
! [[2024 Emilia-Romagna regional election|2024]]
| Into [[Lega (political party)|Lega]]
| –
| {{Composition bar|0|50|hex={{party color|Union of the Centre (2002)}}}}
| {{center|{{steady}} 0}}
| style="background:#ddd; text-align:center"| No seats
|-
! [[Liguria]]
! [[2024 Ligurian regional election|2024]]
| 7,294
| 1.3
| {{Composition bar|0|31|hex={{party color|Union of the Centre (2002)}}}}
| {{center|{{steady}} 0}}
| style="background:#ddd; text-align:center"| No seats
|-
! [[Tuscany]]
! [[2025 Tuscan regional election|2025]]
| With [[Forza Italia (2013)|Forza Italia]]
| –
| {{Composition bar|0|41|hex={{party color|Union of the Centre (2002)}}}}
| {{center|{{steady}} 0}}
| style="background:#ddd; text-align:center"| No seats
|-
! [[Marche]]
! [[2025 Marche regional election|2025]]
| 10,853
| 1.9
| {{Composition bar|1|31|hex={{party color|Union of the Centre (2002)}}}}
| {{center|{{steady}} 0}}
| {{yes2|Majority}}
|-
! [[Umbria]]
! [[2024 Umbrian regional election|2024]]
| 1,432
| 0.5
| {{Composition bar|0|20|hex={{party color|Union of the Centre (2002)}}}}
| {{center|{{steady}} 0}}
| style="background:#ddd; text-align:center"| No seats
|-
! [[Lazio]]
! [[2023 Lazio regional election|2023]]
| 24,983 (10th)
| 1.6
| {{Composition bar|1|50|hex={{party color|Union of the Centre (2002)}}}}
| {{center|{{increase}} 1}}
| {{yes2|Majority}}
|-
! [[Abruzzo]]
! [[2024 Abruzzo regional election|2024]]
| 6,784
| 1,2
| {{Composition bar|0|31|hex={{party color|Union of the Centre (2002)}}}}
| {{center|{{decrease}} 1}}
| style="background:#ddd; text-align:center"| No seats
|-
! [[Molise]]
! [[2023 Molise regional election|2023]]
| 5,005
| 3.5
| {{Composition bar|0|21|hex={{party color|Union of the Centre (2002)}}}}
| {{center|{{steady}} 0}}
| style="background:#ddd; text-align:center"| No seats
|-
! [[Campania]]
! [[2020 Campania regional election|2020]]
| 45,326
| 1.9
| {{Composition bar|0|51|hex={{party color|Union of the Centre (2002)}}}}
| {{center|{{decrease}} 2}}
| style="background:#ddd; text-align:center"| No seats
|-
! [[Apulia]]
! [[2020 Apulian regional election|2020]]
| 31,736
| 1.9
| {{Composition bar|0|51|hex={{party color|Union of the Centre (2002)}}}}
| {{center|{{decrease}} 3}}
| style="background:#ddd; text-align:center"| No seats
|-
! [[Basilicata]]
! [[2024 Basilicata regional election|2024]]
| 6,636
| 2.5
| {{Composition bar|0|21|hex={{party color|Union of the Centre (2002)}}}}
| {{center|{{steady}} 0}}
| style="background:#ddd; text-align:center"| No seats
|-
! [[Calabria]]
! [[2025 Calabrian regional election|2025]]
| 9,750
| 1.3
| {{Composition bar|0|30|hex={{party color|Union of the Centre (2002)}}}}
| {{center|{{decrease}} 2}}
| {{yes2|Majority}}
|-
! [[Sicily]]
! [[2022 Sicilian regional election|2022]]
| Into [[Christian Democracy Sicily|DC]]
| {{N/A}}
| {{Composition bar|1|70|hex={{party color|Union of the Centre (2002)}}}}
| {{center|{{decrease}} 4}}
| {{yes2|Majority}}
|-
! [[Sardinia]]
! [[2024 Sardinian regional election|2024]]
| 19,237 
| 2.8
| {{Composition bar|1|60|hex={{party color|Union of the Centre (2002)}}}}
| {{center|{{decrease}} 3}}
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|}
{{Notelist}}

==Symbols==
<gallery>
File:Unione dei Democratici Cristiani e di Centro (logo, 2002-2006).jpg|2002–2006
File:Unione dei Democratici Cristiani e di Centro (logo).png|2006–2008
File:UNIONE DI CENTRO (2008).jpg|2008 
File:UNIONE DI CENTRO (2009).jpg|2009–2013
File:Unione di Centro logo.png|2013–present
</gallery>

==Leadership==
*Secretary: [[Marco Follini]] (2002–2005), [[Lorenzo Cesa]] (2005–2025), [[Antonio De Poli]] (2025–present)
*Deputy Secretary: [[Sergio D'Antoni]] (2002–2004), [[Mario Tassone]] (2004–2013), [[Erminia Mazzoni]] (2005–2007), [[Salvatore Cuffaro]] (2005–2010), [[Armando Dionisi]] (2007–2008), [[Michele Vietti]] (2007–2010), [[Mauro Libè]] (2014–2016), [[Giuseppe De Mita]] (2014–2017), [[Antonio De Poli]] (2014–2025), [[Gianfranco Chiarelli]] (2023–present), [[Paolo Greco Lucchina]] (2025–present)
**Head of Political Secretariat: [[Lorenzo Cesa]] (2002–2005), [[Armando Dionisi]] (2005–2007), [[Antonio De Poli]] (2007–2014), [[Massimo Cassano]] (2023–2025)
**Spokesperson: [[Michele Vietti]] (2006–2007), [[Francesco Pionati]] (2007–2008), [[Antonio De Poli]] (2008–2014)
*President: [[Rocco Buttiglione]] (2002–2014), [[Gianpiero D'Alia]] (2014–2016), [[Antonio De Poli]] (2016–2025), [[Lorenzo Cesa]] (2025–present)
*Administrative Secretary: [[Salvatore Cherchi]] (2002–2005), [[Giuseppe Naro]] (2005–2014), [[Salvatore Ruggeri]] (2014–2021), [[Calogero Di Carlo]] (2021–2025), [[Regino Brachetti]] (2025–present)
*Organizational Secretary: [[Mario Baccini]] (2002–2005), [[Renato Grassi]] (2005–2006), [[Amedeo Ciccanti]] (2006–2007), [[Giuseppe Galati]] (2007), [[Francesco Saverio Romano]] (2007–2010), [[Antonio De Poli]] (2011–2014)
*Party Leader in the [[Chamber of Deputies (Italy)|Chamber of Deputies]]: [[Luca Volontè]] (2001–2008), [[Pier Ferdinando Casini]] (2008–2012), [[Gian Luca Galletti]] (2012–2013), [[Giampiero D'Alia]] (2013), [[Giuseppe De Mita]] (2013–2014), [[Rocco Buttiglione]] (2014–2018), [[Lorenzo Cesa]] (2022–present)
*Party Leader in the [[Senate of the Republic (Italy)|Senate]]: [[Francesco D'Onofrio (politician)|Francesco D'Onofrio]] (2001–2008), [[Gianpiero D'Alia]] (2008–2013), [[Antonio De Poli]] (2013–present)
*Party Leader in the [[European Parliament]]: [[Vito Bonsignore]] (2004–2008), [[Iles Braghetto]] (2008–2009), [[Carlo Casini]] (2009–2014), [[Lorenzo Cesa]] (2014–2019)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|http://www.udc-italia.it/ }}

{{Political parties of Italy}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Union of Christian and Centre Democrats}}
[[Category:Centrist parties in Italy]]
[[Category:Catholic political parties]]
[[Category:Christian democratic parties in Italy]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 2002]]
[[Category:Socially conservative parties]]
[[Category:2002 establishments in Italy]]