Christian Democratic Union of Germany facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Christian Democratic Union of Germany
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| Leader | Angela Merkel (Chancellor) |
| Founded | 1870 (Centre Party) 1945 (CDU) |
| Headquarters | Klingelhöferstraße 8 10785 Berlin |
| Ideology | Christian Democracy, Conservatism |
| Political position | Centrism/Centre-right |
| European affiliation | European People's Party |
| International affiliation | Christian Democrat International and International Democrat Union |
| European Parliament group | European People's Party - European Democrats |
| Colours | Black, Orange |
| Website | |
| http://www.cdu.de | |
The Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) is a major political party in Germany. Its full German name is Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands. It is known as a party that is "centre-right." This means its ideas are usually a bit more traditional.
The CDU describes itself as a Christian democratic, liberal, and conservative party. In November 2005, Dr. Angela Merkel, the leader of the CDU, became the Chancellor of Germany. The Chancellor is like the prime minister or head of government.
Contents
A Look Back: The CDU's History
How the CDU Started
The CDU was created after World War II. This was a very important time for Germany. The first Chancellor of Germany was Konrad Adenauer. He was a member of the CDU. He led the country from 1949 to 1963.
Key Leaders and Big Moments
Another important CDU leader was Helmut Kohl. He was Chancellor from 1982 to 1998. During his time, Germany became one country again. This was a huge event in German history.
The CDU in Government
The CDU has been in charge for most of Germany's recent history. Only from 1969 to 1982 and from 1998 to 2005 were there Chancellors from other parties. This shows how important the CDU has been in shaping modern Germany.
Who Belongs to the CDU?
Members and Their Role
The CDU has many members, more than 400,000 people! These members help the party make decisions. They also support the party's goals.
The CDU in Parliament
The CDU has a strong presence in the German Parliament. This parliament is called the Deutscher Bundestag. The CDU has 255 out of 631 Members of Parliament there. They also have 34 out of 99 German Members in the European Parliament. The European Parliament makes laws for the whole of Europe.
Images for kids
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The election poster of 1957 reading "No experiments" and featuring then Chancellor Konrad Adenauer.
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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.
See also
In Spanish: Unión Demócrata Cristiana de Alemania para niños
