Yet some assert that the purges and reorganisations are increasing centralism and threatening democracy.

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"This referendum has defeated the remains of centralism, has squashed the manipulation of the enemies of true change, " said Mr Costas.

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The comment piece says the Catholic Church "remains marked by a deadly centralism: the Pope and his aides get by in a universe from a bygone age".

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His successor's first task will be to hold together a disparate parliamentary group, divided between left-wingers and moderates, between vestigial socialist centralism and the Quebec contingent's desire for devolution.

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