The Centre démocrate humaniste: still a Christian-Democratic Party? The voters’ point of view

In 2002, the old French speaking Belgian Parti social chrétien changed his name into Centre démocrate humaniste. This transformation occurred after a global electoral decline since the 50’s and a sharp defeat at the 1999 general election. The new leadership of the party wanted to put forward a ‘new party’, officially free for any Christianity components, including in the label of the party, in order to attract new non believers’ voters. Has this strategy succeeded? Analyzing three exit poll surveys (2007, 2009 and 2010), we will explore the ability of the party to attract new voters and the declining relationship between Catholic voters and the party. More information http://dev.ulb.ac.be/sciencespo/dossiers_membres/delwit-pascal/fichiers/cv_delwit-pascal-2709201051.pdf