Christian Democratic Union of Germany facts for kids

Party headquarters,
the CDU haus in Berlin

The Christian Democratic Union of Germany or Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands (CDU) is one of the two main right of centre political parties in Germany. It describes itself as a Christian democratic, liberal and conservative party of the centre.

In November 2005 the Federal leader of the CDU Dr. Angela Merkel became the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany.

History

The CDU was founded after World War II. The first German Chancellor was Konrad Adenauer, a member of the CDU. He ruled from 1949-1963. During the Government of Helmut Kohl (1982-1998), Germany was reunited.

The CDU was the Government Party for most of the younger German history, only from 1969-1982 and from 1998-2005 there have been Chancellors from different parties.

Members

The CDU has more than 400,000 members. It has 255 of 631 Members of Parliament in the German Parliament (Deutscher Bundestag) and 34 of 99 Members of European Parliament of Germany.

Images for kids

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  The election poster of 1957 reading "No experiments" and featuring then Chancellor Konrad Adenauer (this was the only election in which the CDU obtained an absolute majority).

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  East German CDU leader Lothar de Maizière (left) with West German CDU leader Helmut Kohl in September 1990

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  Angela Merkel, the first female leader and longest serving leader of the party

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  28th party conference in 2015

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  1986 Germany Day of Junge Union in Cologne

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  1978 conference in Rhöndorf with eminent historian Golo Mann (center)

See also

In Spanish: Unión Demócrata Cristiana de Alemania para niños