Changes

  | party_logo =  

  | party_logo =  

  | website = [https://www.cdu.de/ cdu.de]

  | website = [https://www.cdu.de/ cdu.de]

  | leader = [[Angela Merkel]]

  | leader = [[Armin Laschet]]

  | parleader = Ralph Brinkhaus

  | parleader = Ralph Brinkhaus

  | foundation = 1945

  | foundation = 1945

  | ideology = [[Christian democracy]]

  | ideology = [[Liberal conservatism]]<ref>http://parties-and-elections.eu/germany.html</ref><br>[[Globalism]]<br>'''Historical, now factions:'''<br>[[Christian democracy]]

  | position = [[Centrist|Center]] to [[center-right]]

  | position = [[Centrist|Center]] to [[center-right]]

  | international = [[International Democrat Union]], [[Centrist Democrat International]] and [[European People’s Party]]

  | international = [[International Democrat Union]], [[Centrist Democrat International]] and [[European People’s Party]]

  | footnotes =

  | footnotes =

}}

}}

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 '''Christian Democratic Union of Germany''' (Christlich-Demokratische Union Deutschlands, '''CDU''') is a [[globalist]] and [[liberal conservatism|liberal-conservative]] [[establishment]] political party in [[Germany]]. It is a politically-moderate party, and frequently enters coalition agreement with the left-of-center Social Democrats. The current party leader is [[Armin Laschet]], who supports China. [[File:Merkel.jpg|thumb|290px| Chancellor [[Angela Merkel]] led the party from 2000 to 2018]]

The CDU is always in partnership with the '''[[Christian Social Union of Bavaria|Christian Social Union]]''', its more conservative sister party in [[Bavaria]]: the CDU does not field candidates in Bavaria and, in turn, the CSU does not field candidates outside it. 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 CDU is always in partnership with the [[Christian Social Union of Bavaria|Christian Social Union]], its more conservative sister party in [[Bavaria]] – the CDU does not field candidates in Bavaria and, in turn, the CSU does not field candidates outside it. 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> The CDU declined by 8% in the 2017 election, losing much of its votes to the conservative and [[Euroskeptic]] [[Alternative for Germany]].

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>https://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 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>https://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/10/17/merkel-and-center-left-rivals-agree-to-recommend-entering-formal-talks-on-new/</ref>

== Party leaders ==

== Party leaders ==

| [[Angela Merkel]]

| [[Angela Merkel]]

| 16 February 2000

| 16 February 2000

| ''present''

| ''present''

|-

|-

===Federal Leadership===

===Federal Leadership===

The present chairwoman (of the federal party group) is German [[chancellor]] [[Angela Merkel]], vice-chairman are [[Volker Bouffier]] ([[Minister-President]] of the federal state of [[Hesse]]), [[Ursula von der Leyen]] (Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs), [[Julia Klöckner]] (chairman of the CDU of the federal state of [[Rhineland-Palatinate]]), [[Armin Laschet]] (chairman of the CDU of the federal state of [[North Rhine-Westphalia]]) and [[Thomas Strobl]] (chairman of the CDU of the federal state of [[Baden-Württemberg]]).

The present chairwoman (of the federal party group) is [[Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer]], vice-chairman are [[Volker Bouffier]] ([[Minister-President]] of the federal state of [[Hesse]]), [[Ursula von der Leyen]] (Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs), [[Julia Klöckner]] (chairman of the CDU of the federal state of [[Rhineland-Palatinate]]), [[Armin Laschet]] (chairman of the CDU of the federal state of [[North Rhine-Westphalia]]) and [[Thomas Strobl]] (chairman of the CDU of the federal state of [[Baden-Württemberg]]).

===Think Tank===

===Think Tank===

*[[Konrad Adenauer]], first chancellor of the [[Germany|Federal Republic of Germany]]

*[[Konrad Adenauer]], first chancellor of the [[Germany|Federal Republic of Germany]]

*[[Helmut Kohl]], former chancellor of Germany

*[[Helmut Kohl]], former chancellor of Germany

*[[Angela Merkel]], present chancellor of Germany, present chairwoman of the CDU

*[[Angela Merkel]], present chancellor of Germany, former chairwoman of the CDU

===External links===

===External links===

==References==

==References==

{{reflist|2}}

{{Reflist|colwidth=35em}}

[[Category:Political Parties in Germany]]

[[Category:Political Parties in Germany]]

[[Category:Christian Democratic Union]]

[[Category:Christian Democratic Union]]