Chris Santarossa

Christopher Santarossa (born May 28, 1977) is a Sonalali politician. He served as the leader of the Centre Party from 2010 to 2024.
In 2010, Santarossa was elected leader of the Centre Party, succeeding Miryam Gribelin. Under his leadership, the party underwent a period of significant growth. In the 2016 Sonalali parliamentary election, the Centre Party won 12 seats in the election, a remarkable increase from just 1 seat in the previous election. In 2020, the Centre Party continued its momentum, increasing their seat count to 16. Both in 2016 and 2020, the Centre Party formed a coalition government with the Workers' Party.
Santarossa became known as 'Le Connecteur' (lit. The Connector) for his role in facilitating political agreements. His ability to build bridges and bring parties together was highly valued in Sonalali politics. A notable example of his influence occurred in 2023 when Santarossa successfully brokered a deal to end a deadlock between Prime Minister Henri Marchesi and President Tobie De Paulis.
Following the 2024 Sonalali parliamentary election, where the Centre Party lost four seats, Santarossa stepped down as leader during the subsequent government formation process. The party’s decision to join a coalition with the Sonalali Freedom Party, a move Santarossa publicly opposed, marked the end of his leadership tenure.
Category:1976 births
Category:Sonalali politicians