Christian Democratic Party (Peru)

Christian Democracy

Democracia Cristiana (DC)
Christian Democracy Democracia Cristiana (DC)
Abbreviation	DC
Founder	Héctor Cornejo Chávez
Founded	1956
Ideology	Christian humanism
Political position	Centre to centre-left
Colours	Navy blue
Seats in Congress	0 / 130
Governorships	0 / 25
Regional Councillors	0 / 274
Province Mayorships	0 / 196
District Mayorships	0 / 1,874
Website
	[youtube.com/@democraciacristianaperu]
	Politics of Peru; Political parties; Elections;

The Christian Democratic Party (Spanish: Partido Demócrata Cristiano), formerly known as Christian Democracy (Spanish: Democracia Cristiana), is a political party in Peru. Founded in 1956 by Héctor Cornejo Chávez.^[1]

Not having participated in national politics since 1990, the party is currently not registered at the National Jury of Elections to formally participate in present election cycles. However, nowadays its people are reagruping to stablish the original and authentic christian democracy at the peruvian politic.

Development

The DC had its roots in the government of José Bustamante y Rivero who was overthrown in 1948 by Manuel A. Odría although it did not emerge as an organised political party until 1956 when it was one of a number of populist parties formed following Odria's announcement of a new democracy (the other major ones being Popular Action and the Progressive Social Movement).^[2]

The new party gained seats in both houses in the 1956 elections and initially they only concentrated their efforts on the Congress rather than running for the Presidency.^[2] A change in policy followed in 1962 when Cornejo was a candidate for the Presidency but he only managed 2.88% of the vote and the party was eliminated from Congress.^[2]

As a result of this failure and the coup that overthrew Manuel Prado Ugarteche, the DC threw in their lot with the Popular Action and as such returned to Congress in 1963 as junior partners in the coalition supporting new President Fernando Belaúnde Terry.^[3] The party returned to government as a junior partner in APRA-led government of Alan García, remaining in office until 1990.^[1]

Ideology and divisions

The DC advocated a strong nationalism, a community-minded approach to politics and state interventionism, with a grouping on the left even advocating nationalisation of the oil industry.^[4] In the end the right of the party split off in 1966 to set up the Christian People's Party although in the short term at least the majority of the membership remained with the DC.^[5]

Support

The DC gained a following in Lima to the extent that the party was able to defeat strong candidates from Popular Action and the Odriist National Union in order to have Luis Bedoya Reyes elected Mayor of Lima.^[4] In general, however, the party's prospects were hampered by an anti-clericalism prevalent in Peru and, whilst it gained some support amongst middle class women, it never seriously challenged Popular Action for the centre right vote.^[5]

Presidential elections

Year	Candidate	Party / Coalition	Votes	Percentage	Outcome
1962	Héctor Cornejo Chávez	Christian Democracy	48 828	2.89	4th
1963	Fernando Belaúnde	Popular Action - Christian Democracy Alliance	708 662	39.05	1st
1985	Alan García	Peruvian Aprista Party	3 457 030	53.11	1st
1990	Alfonso Barrantes	Socialist Left	320 108	4.80	4th

Bibliography

Hugo Neira, "Peru" in JP Bernard et al., Guide to the Political Parties of South America, Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1973

References

^ ^a ^b "Partidos Políticos (1871-2000)" (in Spanish). Pueblo Continente. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
^ ^a ^b ^c Neira, p. 440
^ Neira, p. 440-441
^ ^a ^b Neira, p. 441
^ ^a ^b Neira, p. 442

[Guide-1] "Partidos Políticos (1871-2000)" (in Spanish). Pueblo Continente. Retrieved 2007-09-01.

[Neira-2] Neira, p. 440

[3] Neira, p. 440-441

[Neira2-4] Neira, p. 441

[Neira3-5] Neira, p. 442

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[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

v t e Political parties in Peru
Parliamentary parties	Alliance for Progress Free Peru Go on Country – Social Integration Party Podemos Perú Popular Action Popular Force Popular Renewal (formerly National Solidarity) Together for Peru (formerly Peruvian Humanist Party) We Are Peru
Extra-parliamentary parties	Agricultural People's Front National Alliance of Workers, Farmers, University Students, and Reservists Christian People's Party Democratic Green Party Faith in Peru First The People – Community, Ecology, Liberty, and Progress Front of Hope 2021 I Believe Party Let's Save Peru Modern Force Modern Peru New Peru Now Nation Party of Good Government Patriotic Party of Peru People's Liberty Peruvian Aprista Party Peru Action (formerly Peru Nation) Peru First Progresemos Purple Party Regionalist Party of National Integration United Peru Democratic Party Workers and Entrepreneurs Party Works Civic Party
Parties in process of registering	ADN Political Party ADP Political Party A Different Path Battle Peru Citizens for Peru Party Conscious People Country for All Party Democratic Integrity Everything with the People Federal Democratic Party For the Love of Peru Forward United People Free and Equal Green Earth Transforming Coalition National Restoration National United Resurgence New People Party for the Understanding, Recovery and Unification of Peru People's Voices Peruvian Humanist Party Peruvians United: We Are Free Popular Unity UP Popular Cooperation United Centre Party – Independent National Unity, Dignity, Order, and Solidarity Unity and Peace Vision Peru
Parties without registration	Christian Democratic Party Communist Party of Peru – Red Fatherland Communist Party of Peru – Shining Path Lo Justo por el Perú Militarized Communist Party of Peru Movement for Socialism Peru Secure Homeland (formerly Cambio 90) Peruvian Communist Party Peruvian Communist Party (Marxist–Leninist) Socialist Party
Active coalitions	TBD
Defunct parties	Advancing All for Peru All for Victory And It's Called Peru Broad Front (incl. Land and Freedom, Sowing Movement) Citizen Force Contigo (formerly Peruvians for Change) Decentralist Social Force Party Democratic Force Democratic Reconstruction Direct Democracy Forward Hacer País Hayist Bases Movement Hope Front Independent Moralizing Front Independent Patriotic Legion Justice, Technology, and Ecology Let's Go Peru Let's Make Progress Peru Liberty Movement National Awakening National Force National Justice National Renewal National United Renaissance National Victory (formerly National Restoration) New Left Movement New Majority Odriist National Union Order Peru Progressing Peru Now Peruvian Nationalist Party Peruvian Resurgence Popular Union Possible Peru Project Country Radical Change Revolutionary Union Sí Cumple Socialist Party of Peru Union for Peru With Force Peru Youth Independent Movement
Former coalitions	Alliance for the Future (2006) Alliance for the Great Change (2011) Alliance for the Progress of Peru (2016) APRA-UNO Coalition (1963-1968) Avancemos (2000) Center Front (2006) Cambio 90 – New Majority (1995-2000, 2001-2006) Decentralization Coalition (2006) FREDEMO (1990) National Democratic Front (1945) National Front of Workers and Peasants National Solidarity Alliance (2011) National Unity (2001, 2006) People's Solution (2001) Popular Alliance (2016) Possible Peru Alliance (2011) Peru Wins (2011) Peru 2000 (2000) Together for Peru (2021)
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