# Centre of Social Democrats

> political party

**Wikidata**: [Q1054196](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1054196)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centre_of_Social_Democrats)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/centre-of-social-democrats

## Summary
The Centre of Social Democrats (CDS) was a French political party founded on May 23, 1976, as a center-right Christian democratic organization. It dissolved on November 25, 1995, after merging with the Radical Party of the Left to form the Union for French Democracy (UDF-CDS). The party was known for its Christian democratic ideology and played a role in French politics during the 1980s and 1990s.

## Key Facts
- **Founded**: May 23, 1976
- **Dissolved**: November 25, 1995
- **Country of origin**: France
- **Political ideology**: Christian democracy
- **Political alignment**: Center-right
- **Short name**: CDS
- **Aliases**: Centre des Démocrates Sociaux, UDF-CDS, Centre des démocrates sociaux, Jeunes démocrates sociaux
- **Chairpersons**:
  - Jean Lecanuet (May 23, 1976 – June 1982)
  - Pierre Méhaignerie (June 1982 – December 1994)
  - François Bayrou (December 1994 – November 25, 1995)
- **General secretary**: Jacques Barrot
- **ISNI**: 0000 0001 0942 6778
- **GND ID**: 516235-X
- **VIAF ID**: 136027624
- **IdRef ID**: 02763261X
- **NUkat ID**: n2012028646
- **Freebase ID**: /m/026pck5
- **Library of Congress ID**: n79037033
- **National Library of Israel ID**: 987007441773905171
- **Bibliothèque nationale de France ID**: 118716977
- **Wikipedia languages available**: Arabic, Catalan, German, English, French, Italian, Dutch, Norwegian, Polish, Russian, Turkish

## FAQs
**What was the Centre of Social Democrats?**
The Centre of Social Democrats (CDS) was a French political party founded in 1976 as a center-right Christian democratic organization. It dissolved in 1995 after merging with the Radical Party of the Left to form the Union for French Democracy (UDF-CDS).

**When was the Centre of Social Democrats founded?**
The Centre of Social Democrats was founded on May 23, 1976.

**Who were the chairpersons of the Centre of Social Democrats?**
The chairpersons of the Centre of Social Democrats included Jean Lecanuet (1976–1982), Pierre Méhaignerie (1982–1994), and François Bayrou (1994–1995).

**What was the political ideology of the Centre of Social Democrats?**
The Centre of Social Democrats was a Christian democratic party aligned with the center-right.

**What happened to the Centre of Social Democrats?**
The Centre of Social Democrats dissolved on November 25, 1995, after merging with the Radical Party of the Left to form the Union for French Democracy (UDF-CDS).

## Why It Matters
The Centre of Social Democrats played a significant role in French politics during the 1980s and 1990s, representing a center-right Christian democratic perspective. Its dissolution marked the end of an era for Christian democratic politics in France, contributing to the broader evolution of French political parties and alliances. The party's legacy is reflected in the continued influence of Christian democratic values in French politics.

## Notable For
- **Founding**: Established as a center-right Christian democratic party in 1976.
- **Mergers**: Dissolved in 1995 after merging with the Radical Party of the Left to form the Union for French Democracy (UDF-CDS).
- **Leadership**: Had notable chairpersons including Jean Lecanuet, Pierre Méhaignerie, and François Bayrou.
- **Political Alignment**: Represented a center-right Christian democratic perspective in French politics.

## Body
### History
The Centre of Social Democrats was founded on May 23, 1976, as a center-right Christian democratic organization. It emerged as part of the broader political landscape of France, aiming to represent conservative and moderate values. The party's leadership evolved over time, with Jean Lecanuet serving as the first chairman from 1976 to 1982, followed by Pierre Méhaignerie from 1982 to 1994, and François Bayrou from 1994 until the party's dissolution.

### Political Ideology and Alignment
The Centre of Social Democrats was a Christian democratic party aligned with the center-right. It advocated for conservative and moderate policies, reflecting the principles of Christian democracy. The party's political alignment positioned it as a key player in the center-right coalition in French politics.

### Leadership and Structure
The Centre of Social Democrats had a structured leadership, with Jean Lecanuet, Pierre Méhaignerie, and François Bayrou serving as chairpersons at different stages. Jacques Barrot served as the general secretary. The party's organizational structure and leadership played a crucial role in its political activities and influence.

### Dissolution and Legacy
The Centre of Social Democrats dissolved on November 25, 1995, after merging with the Radical Party of the Left to form the Union for French Democracy (UDF-CDS). This merger marked the end of the CDS as an independent political entity and contributed to the broader evolution of French political parties and alliances. The party's legacy is reflected in the continued influence of Christian democratic values in French politics.

### Identifiers and References
The Centre of Social Democrats is identified by various identifiers, including ISNI (0000 0001 0942 6778), GND ID (516235-X), VIAF ID (136027624), IdRef ID (02763261X), NUkat ID (n2012028646), Freebase ID (/m/026pck5), Library of Congress ID (n79037033), National Library of Israel ID (987007441773905171), and Bibliothèque nationale de France ID (118716977). These identifiers are used to reference the party in academic and archival contexts.

### Wikipedia and Online Presence
The Centre of Social Democrats has a Wikipedia page available in multiple languages, including Arabic, Catalan, German, English, French, Italian, Dutch, Norwegian, Polish, Russian, and Turkish. The party's online presence and Wikipedia page provide additional information and context about its history, ideology, and impact.

## References

1. [Source](http://viaf.org/viaf/data/viaf-20170101-links.txt.gz)
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. CiNii Research
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013