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The '''Christian Democratic Union of Germany''' (Christlich-Demokratische Union Deutschlands, '''CDU''') is a [[Christian Democratic]] political party in [[Germany]]. It is a middle-conservative party, and in 2009-2013 shared power in a coalition with the liberal libertarian [[Free Democratic Party]] (FDP).  [[File:Merkel.jpg|thumb|290px| Chancellor [[Angela Merkel]] leads the party]] The CDU is always in partnership with the '''[[Christian Social Union of Bavaria|Christian Social Union]]''', its more conservative sister party in [[Bavaria]]. When adding the mandates of both the CDU and CSU, who caucus together at the national level, they form the largest parliamentary group at the national level. Both parties are also in control of a majority of governments at the state level, with 11 out of 16 heads of state governments hailing from one of them.  

The '''Christian Democratic Union of Germany''' (Christlich-Demokratische Union Deutschlands, '''CDU''') is a [[Christian Democratic]] political party in [[Germany]]. It is a middle-conservative party, and in 2009-2013 shared power in a coalition with the liberal-libertarian [[Free Democratic Party]] (FDP).  [[File:Merkel.jpg|thumb|290px| Chancellor [[Angela Merkel]] leads the party]] The CDU is always in partnership with the '''[[Christian Social Union of Bavaria|Christian Social Union]]''', its more conservative sister party in [[Bavaria]]. When adding the mandates of both the CDU and CSU, who caucus together at the national level, they form the largest parliamentary group at the national level. Both parties are also in control of a majority of governments at the state level, with 11 out of 16 heads of state governments hailing from one of them.  

In 2013 the CDU won again the majority with 41.5 percent, but its ally the [[Free Democratic Party]] left the parliament, because they had not enough votes.<ref>http://cnsnews.com/news/article/merkel-triumphs-german-vote-allies-crushed</ref> The Christian Democratic Union has created a coalition with the left-center [[SPD]], who got 25.7 percent of the vote.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/10/17/merkel-and-center-left-rivals-agree-to-recommend-entering-formal-talks-on-new/</ref>

In 2013 the CDU won again the majority with 41.5 percent, but its ally the [[Free Democratic Party]] left the parliament because they had not enough votes.<ref>http://cnsnews.com/news/article/merkel-triumphs-german-vote-allies-crushed</ref> The Christian Democratic Union has created a coalition with the left-center [[SPD]], who got 25.7 percent of the vote.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/10/17/merkel-and-center-left-rivals-agree-to-recommend-entering-formal-talks-on-new/</ref> The CDU declined by 8% in the 2017 election, losing much of its votes to the conservative and [[Euroskeptic]] [[Alternative for Germany]].

==History==

==History==

The party was founded in post-war Germany by centrist and conservative Christian politicians who were former members of the Centre Party and wanted to overcome the divisions among democratic Christians politicians in pre-war Germany, which was perceived as one of the reasons of the deadlock in politics during the [[Weimar Republic]]. Before 1934 Germany was about 1/3 Catholic. West Germany was now about evenly split between Catholics and Protestants. The CDU (and its sister party the CSU in Bavaria) regularly won about 60% of the catholic vote, and 35-40% of the Protestants. To control a majority in the Bundestag (national parliament) it formed coalitions usually with the small Free Democrats (FDP), a conservative/libertarian party favired by big business and professionals.

The party was founded in post-war Germany by centrist and conservative Christian politicians who were former members of the Centre Party and wanted to overcome the divisions among democratic Christians politicians in pre-war Germany, which was perceived as one of the reasons of the deadlock in politics during the [[Weimar Republic]]. Before 1934 Germany was about 1/3 Catholic. West Germany was now about evenly split between Catholics and Protestants. The CDU (and its sister party the CSU in Bavaria) regularly won about 60% of the Catholic vote, and 35-40% of the Protestants. To control a majority in the Bundestag (national parliament) it formed coalitions usually with the small Free Democrats (FDP), a conservative/libertarian party favored by big business and professionals.

Leading figures in the post-war era were [[Konrad Adenauer]] and [[Ludwig Erhard]]. Adenauer became the first Chancellor in West Germany, and who was seeking firm military and economic integration of West Germany with western Europe and the US. Ludwig Erhard was the first Minister of Economy, renowned for his advocacy and implementation of [[social market economy]], and is considered the father of the German [[Wirtschaftswunder]], the economic boom in the 50s and 60s. These two political concepts, social market economy and integration in the West, have become the two main ideological pillars of the Christian Democratic Union.

Leading figures in the post-war era were [[Konrad Adenauer]] and [[Ludwig Erhard]]. Adenauer became the first Chancellor of West Germany, and who was seeking firm military and economic integration of West Germany with western Europe and the US. Ludwig Erhard was the first Minister of Economy, renowned for his advocacy and implementation of [[social market economy]], and is considered the father of the German [[Wirtschaftswunder]], the economic boom in the 50s and 60s. These two political concepts, social market economy, and integration in the West, have become the two main ideological pillars of the Christian Democratic Union.

In the [[German Democratic Republic]] the CDUD (Christlich-Demokratische Union Deutschlands engl: Christian Democratic Union of Germany) should subordinate the [[Socialist Unity Party]]. Only in the first free elections of 1990 the CDUD merged an election alliance called "Alliance for Germany" and could won the election. On October 1 and 2 of 1990 the CDUD merged with the CDU to one party.<ref>http://www.cdu.de/artikel/geschichte</ref>

In the [[German Democratic Republic]] the CDUD (Christlich-Demokratische Union Deutschlands engl: Christian Democratic Union of Germany) should subordinate the [[Socialist Unity Party]]. Only in the first free elections of 1990, the CDUD merged an election alliance called "Alliance for Germany" and could win the election. On October 1 and 2 of 1990, the CDUD merged with the CDU to one party.<ref>http://www.cdu.de/artikel/geschichte</ref>

It should be noted that under Merkel's leadership, the party has moved more to the political center in recent years. Voters in Germany haven't approved of this new course: although the CDU managed to emerge as the strongest party in both the 2005 and 2009 elections, winning Merkel the chancellorship, their share of the vote was only 35,2% and 33,8%,<ref>http://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/de/bundestagswahlen/ Official results of the 2005 and 2009 federal elections (in German)</ref> respectively. When running more to the right, as has happened under the leadership of Bavarians Franz Josef Strauss in 1980 or Edmund Stoiber in 2002, the party performed much stronger: in 1980, Strauss almost managed to win an absolute majority; in 2002, Stoiber obtained the best results the CDU has enjoyed in the current five-party-environment. Both candidates only missed the chancellorship because the left-wing social democrats could assemble majority coalitions with smaller centrist parties.

It should be noted that under Merkel's leadership, the party has moved more to the political center in recent years. Voters in Germany haven't approved of this new course: although the CDU managed to emerge as the strongest party in both the 2005 and 2009 elections, winning Merkel the chancellorship, their share of the vote was only 35,2% and 33,8%,<ref>http://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/de/bundestagswahlen/ Official results of the 2005 and 2009 federal elections (in German)</ref> respectively. When running more to the right, as has happened under the leadership of Bavarians Franz Josef Strauss in 1980 or Edmund Stoiber in 2002, the party performed much stronger: in 1980, Strauss almost managed to win an absolute majority; in 2002, Stoiber obtained the best results the CDU has enjoyed in the current five-party-environment. Both candidates only missed the chancellorship because the left-wing social democrats could assemble majority coalitions with smaller centrist parties.

[[File:Germ-vote-2009.jpg|300px|thumb|Exit polls from Sept. 2009 election won by the conservative coalition CDU and FDP]]

[[File:Germ-vote-2009.jpg|300px|thumb|Exit polls from Sept. 2009 election won by the conservative coalition CDU and FDP]]

The September 2009 elections were a major win for the conservative forces led by CDU Chancellor [[Angela Merkel]], breaking a stalemate and opening the way for more conservative economic policies. Previously since an indecisive election in 2005 the Christian Democrats (CDU) (on the center-right) formed a "grand coalition" with the [[SPD|Social Democrats]] (SPD) (on the center-left). Merkel and her CDU formed a coalition with the libertarian, pro-business [[Free Democratic Party|Free Democrats]] (FDP) to 2013. Left in the cold was the SPD, the [[Alliance '90/The Greens|Greens]], and the ex-Communists who remain strong in the former East Germany under the name "[[The Left]]". Merkel moved forward on tax cuts, reform of the tax code, reduction of bureaucracy and a possible extension of the time that nuclear power plants can continue to operate.  

The September 2009 elections were a major win for the conservative forces led by CDU Chancellor [[Angela Merkel]], breaking a stalemate and opening the way for more conservative economic policies. Previously since an indecisive election in 2005, the Christian Democrats (CDU) (on the center-right) formed a "grand coalition" with the [[SPD|Social Democrats]] (SPD) (on the center-left). Merkel and her CDU formed a coalition with the libertarian, pro-business [[Free Democratic Party|Free Democrats]] (FDP) to 2013. Left in the cold was the SPD, the [[Alliance '90/The Greens|Greens]], and the ex-Communists who remain strong in the former East Germany under the name "[[The Left]]". Merkel moved forward on tax cuts, reform of the tax code, reduction of bureaucracy and a possible extension of the time that nuclear power plants can continue to operate.  

In 2013 the [[Free Democratic Party]] (FDP) left the parliament.<ref>http://news.msn.com/world/merkels-party-wins-german-election-but-allies-crushed</ref> So the CDU created a "grand coalition" with the [[SPD]] again.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/10/17/merkel-and-center-left-rivals-agree-to-recommend-entering-formal-talks-on-new/</ref>

In 2013 the [[Free Democratic Party]] (FDP) left the parliament.<ref>http://news.msn.com/world/merkels-party-wins-german-election-but-allies-crushed</ref> So the CDU created a "grand coalition" with the [[SPD]] again.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/10/17/merkel-and-center-left-rivals-agree-to-recommend-entering-formal-talks-on-new/</ref>

===Think Tank===

===Think Tank===

The federal party group holds a think tank called [[Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung]] (''Konrad Adenauer Foundation''), named after first chancellor of post-[[World War II]] Germany [[Konrad Adenauer]]. The state party groups have similar foundations.

The federal party group holds a think tank called [[Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung]] (''Konrad Adenauer Foundation''), named after the first chancellor of post-[[World War II]] Germany [[Konrad Adenauer]]. The state party groups have similar foundations.

==Bavaria==

==Bavaria==

There's a special relationship between the CDU and the [[Christian Social Union of Bavaria]] (CSU). The CSU is legally a party of its own, but cooperates closely with the CDU. The CSU only acts in the state of [[Bavaria]] and the CDU in the other states. The CSU is independent and has its own political structure and party platform, which differs in some positions from the CDU's one, so that the CSU can be considered more conservative. The most prominent politician of the CSU was [[Franz-Josef Strauss]].

There's a special relationship between the CDU and the [[Christian Social Union of Bavaria]] (CSU). The CSU is legally a party of its own but cooperates closely with the CDU. The CSU only acts in the state of [[Bavaria]] and the CDU in the other states. The CSU is independent and has its own political structure and party platform, which differs in some positions from the CDU's one so that the CSU can be considered more conservative. The most prominent politician of the CSU was [[Franz-Josef Strauss]].

The CDU has special organizations for demographic groups ([[Young Union|youth]], women, older/retired citizens, etc.).

The CDU has special organizations for demographic groups ([[Young Union|youth]], women, older/retired citizens, etc.).

==Positions==

==Positions==

The CDU has been compared with the [[Republican Party]] in the United States. It supports a social market economy, used to oppose "equality" of homosexual pairs with traditional families (but now has given into the [[homosexual agenda]]) and is stated to support the [[USA]] and [[Israel]]. But it is has also liberal views. For example, it opposes the death penalty, which is outlawed by the current German constitution.<ref>http://www.cducsu.de/Titel__todesstrafe_weltweit_aechten_und_abschaffen/TabID__6/SubTabID__7/InhaltTypID__1/InhaltID__16775/inhalte.aspx</ref> It also supports mass immigration and destructive refugee policies, the socialist and globalist [[European Union]] and open borders, and has apparently lost its Christian roots.

The CDU has been compared with the [[Republican Party]] in the United States. It supports a social market economy, used to oppose "equality" of homosexual pairs with traditional families (but now has given into the [[homosexual agenda]]) and is stated to support the [[USA]] and [[Israel]]. But it has also liberal views. For example, it opposes the death penalty, which is outlawed by the current German constitution.<ref>http://www.cducsu.de/Titel__todesstrafe_weltweit_aechten_und_abschaffen/TabID__6/SubTabID__7/InhaltTypID__1/InhaltID__16775/inhalte.aspx</ref> It also supports mass immigration and destructive refugee policies, the socialist and globalist [[European Union]] and open borders, and has apparently lost its Christian roots.

==Famous Party Members==

==Famous Party Members==

{{reflist|2}}

{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Political Parties in Germany]]

[[Category:Political Parties in Germany]]

[[Category:Christian Democratic Union]]

[[Category:Christian Democratic Union]]