VIA, the Way of the People

VIA, the Way of the People (French: VIA | la voie du peuple, VIA) is a social conservative and Christian rightist party in France. The party was known as the Forum of Social Republicans (FRS) between 2001 and June 2009 before adopting the name Christian Democratic Party (French: Parti chrétien-démocrate, PCD),[2] which it used until 3 October 2020. The party was founded by Christine Boutin. On 3 October 2020, the party would change its name to the current one.

VIA | The Way of the People
VIA | la voie du peuple
Founded27 February 2001
Split fromUnion for French Democracy
HeadquartersParis
IdeologyChristian democracy
Social conservatism
Christian right
Soft Euroscepticism
Political positionFar-right[1]
National affiliationReconquête (2022–)
European affiliationEuropean Christian Political Movement
Website
via-lavoiedupeuple.fr
Logo used as the Christian-Democratic Party

The FRS was established in March 2001 as a social conservative faction within the liberal conservative Union for French Democracy (UDF) and emerged as an independent party in December of the same year, when Boutin announced her candidacy in the 2002 French presidential election, in contrast with UDF leader and official candidate François Bayrou, and was consequently expelled.

In 2005, the FRS called for a NO vote in the referendum over the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe.

VIA is a Christian-oriented social conservative party, opposed to gay marriage, abortion and euthanasia.

VIA was an associate party of the Union for a Popular Movement and was a member of the Liaison Committee for the Presidential Majority.

Since November 2013, Jean-Frédéric Poisson has been the president of the party.[3]

Elected officials

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The party also claims 9,500 members as of 2009.[5]

Election results

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European Parliament

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Election Leader Votes % Seats +/− EP Group
2024[a] Jean-Frédéric Poisson 228,351 0.93 (#13)
0 / 81
New
  1. ^ Run in a joint list with LP, that won no seats.

References

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  1. ^ "Présidentielle 2022 : Jean-Frédéric Poisson retire sa candidature et rejoint la campagne d'Éric Zemmour". Le Figaro. December 3, 2021.
  2. ^ "Boutin crée le parti chrétien-démocrate". Le Figaro. June 20, 2009.
  3. ^ "Jean-Frédéric Poisson succède à Christine Boutin à la tête du Parti chrétien-démocrate". November 16, 2013 – via Le Monde.
  4. ^ Jean-Frédéric Poisson was deputy, in replacement of Christine Boutin, nominated to the cabinet, until she left the government in June 2009, at which date she was eligible to retrieve her seat. She did not wish to do so, therefore a by-election will be held.
  5. ^ "Forum des Républicains Sociaux". November 26, 2006. Archived from the original on 2006-11-26.
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