Moderate

In politics and religion, a moderate is an individual who is not extreme, partisan, nor radical. In recent years, the term political moderates has gained traction as a buzzword.

The existence of the ideal moderate is disputed because of a lack of a moderate political ideology.

Aristotle favoured conciliatory politics dominated by the centre rather than the extremes of great wealth and poverty or the special interests of oligarchs and tyrants.

As a political position

Voters who describe themselves as centrist often mean that they are moderate in their political views, advocating neither extreme left-wing politics nor right-wing politics. Gallup polling has shown American voters identifying themselves as moderate between 35–38% of the time over the last 20 years. Voters may identify with moderation for a number of reasons: pragmatic, ideological or otherwise. It has even been suggested that individuals vote for ‘centrist’ parties for purely statistical reasons.

See also

Moderates (Italy)

The Moderates (Italian: Moderati) are a regional centrist political party in Italy, active mainly in Piedmont. The party, whose leader is Giacomo Portas, is part of the centre-left coalition formed around the Democratic Party (PD).

History

The party was launched in January 2006 by Portas, a former member of Forza Italia (FI), and was joined by four regional councillors: Giuliano Manolino (ex-FI), Giovanni Pizzale (ex-IdV), Mauro Laus (ex-PD) and Graziella Valloggia (ex-PRC).

In the 2007 municipal elections the Moderates scored 4% in both Turin and Cuneo, 8% in Grugliasco and 10% in Moncalieri.

In the 2008 general election Portas was elected to the Chamber of Deputies as an independent from the list of the PD in the "Piedmont 1" constituency, marking the party's entry in national politics.

In 2009 provincial elections the party won 2.7% in the Province of Turin, 2.1% in Alessandria, 1.7% in Cuneo and 0.8% in Novara. In the 2010 regional election the Moderates won 3.1% of the vote regionally and 4.1% in the Province of Turin, where Michele Dell'Utri was elected regional councillor. In the 2011 Turin municipal election the party garnered a sweeping 9.1% and four councillors, being crucial for the election of Democrat Piero Fassino as mayor.

Social Democratic Party (Estonia)

The Social Democratic Party (Estonian: Sotsiaaldemokraatlik Erakond, SDE) is a social-democraticpolitical party in Estonia, currently led by Jevgeni Ossinovski.

The party was formerly known as the People's Party Moderates (Estonian: Rahvaerakond Mõõdukad). The SDE has been a member of the Party of European Socialists since 16 May 2003 and a member of the Socialist International since November 1990.

The party has served as a junior coalition partner in the Rõivas cabinet since 26 March 2014.

History

1989–today

For the history of Estonian Social Democracy before the 1980s, see Estonian Social Democratic Workers' Party

During the perestroika era the Estonian Social Democratic Party (Eesti Sotsiaaldemokraatlik Partei, ESDP) was formed as Estonia's social-democratic movements merged in 1990. The movements were: the Estonian Democratic Labour Party, the Estonian Social Democratic Independence Party, the Russian Social Democratic Party of Estonia and the Estonian Socialist Party's Foreign Association (successor of Estonian Socialist Workers Party in exile).