The CVP (“Christlichdemokratische Volkspartei”, Christian Democratic People's Party) was founded in 1912 and existed until the end of 2020. As of 1.1.2021, the CVP merged with the BDP (“Bürgerlich-Demokratische Partei”, Civil Democratic Party). The new name of the merged party is "Die Mitte" (The Centre) and is centrally located in the political spectrum. Because the new party describes itself as liberal-social, but on the part of the CVP the roots come from the Catholic-conservative area, the party alternately votes with the conservative or the more liberal forces in parliament and therefore often represents the "tipping of the scales". It is therefore often perceived as the "kingmaker". Moreover, thanks to its high number of seats in the “Ständerat” (Council of States), 'The Centre' is a particularly influential party.

The CVP last participated in the National Council and Council of States elections in 2019 achieving a voter share of 11.4 % (with a slight loss of 0.2 % voter share), 25 mandates in the National Council and 13 mandates in the Council of States. The CVP was also represented in the “Bundesrat” (Federal Council) with one or two persons from 1891 to 2020. Traditionally, the CVP was the strongest party in the Catholic cantons such as Valais, Lucerne, Appenzell Innerrhoden and Uri, and a weighty party in the cantons of Fribourg, Solothurn, Ticino, Obwalden and Jura.