Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams facts for kids

Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams (often called CD&V) is a political party in Belgium. It is mainly active in the Flemish part of Belgium. This party believes in Christian Democratic ideas.

What is CD&V?

CD&V stands for Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams, which means 'Christian Democratic and Flemish'. It is one of the main political parties in Flanders, the Dutch-speaking region of Belgium. Political parties are groups of people who share similar ideas about how a country should be run. They work together to get their members elected to government.

What do they believe in?

CD&V is a Christian Democratic party. This means their ideas are often based on Christian values, like helping others and building a strong community. They focus on things like:

• Family values: Supporting families and making sure they have what they need.
• Social fairness: Making sure everyone is treated fairly and has opportunities.
• Economy: Creating jobs and helping businesses grow in a responsible way.
• Environment: Protecting nature and making sure we have a healthy planet for the future.
• Flemish identity: Supporting the culture and language of Flanders within Belgium.

They try to find a balance between individual freedom and the good of the community.

History of CD&V

The CD&V party has a long history in Belgian politics. It was officially formed in 1968. Before that, it was part of a larger Christian political party that covered all of Belgium.

How did it start?

In the 1960s, Belgium's political parties split into separate Dutch-speaking and French-speaking parties. This happened because of differences in language and culture between the Flemish and Walloon regions. The Christian Social Party, which was a big party at the time, split into two:

• The Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams (CD&V) for Flanders.
• The Centre Démocrate Humaniste (cdH) for Wallonia.

This split allowed each party to focus more on the specific needs and ideas of their region.

Important moments

Since its start, CD&V has often been a very important party in Belgian governments. They have had many members serve as prime ministers and ministers. This means they have played a big role in making decisions for the country. They have helped shape laws about healthcare, education, and the economy.

CD&V in government

Political parties like CD&V work to get their members elected to different levels of government. This includes:

• The federal parliament (for all of Belgium).
• The Flemish parliament (for the Flemish region).
• Local councils (for cities and towns).

Forming coalitions

In Belgium, it is very rare for one party to win enough votes to govern alone. Because of this, parties often form coalitions. A coalition is when two or more parties agree to work together to form a government. CD&V has been part of many different coalitions over the years. This means they have worked with parties that have different ideas to find common ground and lead the country.

Key leaders

Many important politicians have been leaders of CD&V. These leaders help guide the party and represent its ideas to the public. They also play a big role in negotiations when forming governments.

See also

In Spanish: Cristiano Demócrata y Flamenco para niños