Union pour la démocratie française (UDF)

   The union pour la démocratie française (uDF) is a political formation, or party, that groups the Parti républicain, the Centre des démocrates sociaux (which became in 1995 the Force démocrate), the Parti radical, the Parti social-démocrate, and the Perspectives and Réalités Clubs (which had become the Parti populaire pour la démocratie française in 1995). It was created in 1978 and led by jean lecanuet (1978-88), valéry giscard d'estaing (1988-96), then François léotard (1996). Formed with the idea of maintaining the gains in the legislative elections of 1978, the uDF, supporting the policies of Giscard d'Estaing as president of the republic, nonetheless lost ground in the 1981 elections. Part of the opposition from 1981 to 1986 and 1988 to 1993, the UDF drew closer to the Rassemblement pour la République (RPR) beginning in 1984. The parties merged briefly (1990-93) to form the union pour la France (UPF). The second-largest group on the right with 200 deputies in 2003, the UDF is a centrist and liberal party that supports European integration.