Christian Union (Netherlands)
The Christian Union (Dutch: ChristenUnie, [ˈkrɪs.tənˈy.ni]; CU) is a Christian-democratic political party in the Netherlands. The CU is a centrist party, maintaining more progressive stances on economic, immigration and environmental issues while holding more socially conservative positions on issues such as abortion and euthanasia. The party describes itself as "social Christian".
Christian Union ChristenUnie | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | CU |
| Leader | Mirjam Bikker |
| Chairman | Ankie van Tatenhove |
| Leader in the Cabinet | Carola Schouten |
| Leader in the Senate | Tineke Huizinga |
| Leader in the House of Representatives | Mirjam Bikker |
| Leader in the European Parliament | Anja Haga |
| Founded | 22 January 2000 |
| Merger of | Reformed Political Alliance Reformatory Political Federation |
| Headquarters | Partijbureau ChristenUnie Johan van Oldebarneveltlaan 46, Amersfoort |
| Youth wing | PerspectieF |
| Think tank | Mr. G. Groen van Prinsterer Stichting |
| Membership (2024) | 24,709 |
| Ideology |
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| Political position | Fiscal: Centre to centre-left Social: Centre-right |
| Religion | Orthodox Protestant |
| European affiliation | European Christian Political Movement |
| European Parliament group | European Conservatives and Reformists (2009–2019) European People's Party Group |
| Benelux Parliament group | Christian Group |
| Colours | Sky blue Blue |
| Slogan | Dutch: Geef geloof een stem (Give faith a voice/vote) |
| Senate | 3 / 75 |
| House of Representatives | 3 / 150 |
| Provincial councils | 21 / 570 |
| European Parliament | 1 / 29 |
| King's Commissioners | 1 / 12 |
| Benelux Parliament | 2 / 21 |
| Website | |
| www | |
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Founded in 2000 as a merger of the Reformed Political League (GPV) and Reformatory Political Federation (RPF), the Christian Union has five seats in the House of Representatives and four in the Senate. After doubling its seats in the 2006 elections, it became the smallest member of the fourth Balkenende cabinet. In some elections, it forms an alliance with the Calvinist Reformed Political Party (SGP), which, unlike the CU, is a testimonial party.
Primarily a Protestant party, the CU bases its policies on the Bible, and takes the theological principles of charity and stewardship as bases for its support for public expenditure and environmentalism. The party seeks for government to uphold Christian morality, but supports freedom of religion under the doctrine of sphere sovereignty. The party is moderately Eurosceptic; it was formerly with the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group in the European Parliament but now sits with the European People's Party group (EPP). It is a member of the European Christian Political Movement.