Christian Democratic Union (Netherlands)

The Christian Democratic Union (Dutch: Christelijk-Democratische Unie, CDU) was a minor progressive Protestant[1] party in the Netherlands during the interbellum.

Christian Democratic Union
Christelijk-Democratische Unie
AbbreviationCDU
LeaderHarm van Houten
Founded11 December 1926 (1926-12-11)
Dissolved8 February 1946 (1946-02-08)
Merger ofChristian Social Party
Christian Democratic Party
League of Christian Socialists
Merged intoLabour Party
NewspaperDe Strijder
De Christen-democraat
IdeologyChristian democracy
Pacifism
Christian left
Political positionCentre-left
ReligionReformed Churches in Repaired Union
Part of the Politics series
Politics of the Netherlands
Azure, billetty Or a lion with a coronet Or armed and langued Gules holding in his dexter paw a sword Argent hilted Or and in the sinister paw seven arrows Argent pointed and bound together Or. [The seven arrows stand for the seven provinces of the Union of Utrecht.] The shield is crowned with the (Dutch) royal crown and supported by two lions Or armed and langued gules. They stand on a scroll Azure with the text (Or) "Je Maintiendrai" (French for "I will maintain".)
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History

The CDU was formed in 1926 as a merger of three even smaller Christian left-wing parties, the Christian Social Party, the Christian Democratic Party and the League of Christian Socialists. It had one seat between 1929 and 1937 and two between 1937 and 1946. The party always was in opposition.

It was linked to the minor denomination Reformed Churches in Repaired Union (Dutch: Gereformeerde Kerken in Hersteld Verband), which split from the mainstream Reformed churches, because of its pacifism. The Synod of the reformed church therefore decreed disciplinary measures against members of the CDU.

After World War II, the party joined the newly founded Partij van de Arbeid. In the 1950s many members left to join the pacifist PSP because of the relatively right-wing course of the PvdA.

Ideology

The CDU stood for a just society based on biblical rules. The party's principles were based on the work of reformed theologian Karl Barth. It was a left-wing party to the extent that it was opposed to war in any form and demanded radical redistribution of income, nationalisation of core industries and influence of workers on corporations. It was in favor of Christian democracy to the extent that it wanted to keep the sabbath.

Electoral results

House of Representatives
House of Representatives
Election Leader Votes Seats
No. Share No. ±
1929 Harm van Houten 12,407 0.38% [2]
0 / 100
1933 Harm van Houten 38,459 1.03% [3]
1 / 100
 Increase 1
1937 Harm van Houten 85,004 2.09% [4]
2 / 100
 Increase 1

References
  1. Gebhard Moldenhauer (1 January 2001). Die Niederlande und Deutschland: einander kennen und verstehen. Waxmann Verlag. pp. 113–. ISBN 978-3-89325-747-8.
  2. Verkiezingsuitslagen – Tweede Kamer – 3 juli 1929 , Kiesraad.
  3. Verkiezingsuitslagen – Tweede Kamer – 26 april 1933 , Kiesraad.
  4. Verkiezingsuitslagen – Tweede Kamer – 26 mei 1937 , Kiesraad.
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