A centrist is someone whose political views are moderate and fall between the left-wing and right-wing positions on the political spectrum. Centrists typically support gradual political change rather than radical shifts, often advocating for a welfare state with moderate redistributive policies and institutional reform done prudently
. Centrism is characterized by:
- Holding middle-of-the-road political beliefs, avoiding extremes on either side
- Supporting a liberal welfare state and some redistributive policies but opposing the complete abolition of the upper class
- Advocating for gradual change rather than radical revolution or strict adherence to the status quo
- Often emphasizing the importance of a strong middle class and opposing both reactionary and revolutionary politics
- Being positioned between left-wing and right-wing ideologies, sometimes incorporating elements of both
Centrists can be individuals or political parties that seek to balance or blend ideas from both sides, and in multi-party systems, centrist parties often play a key role in coalition governments due to their moderate stance
. In summary, a centrist is a person or politician who holds moderate, balanced political opinions that avoid extremes, favoring incremental change and pragmatic policies that appeal to a broad spectrum of the electorate
