Christian Democratic Union (Netherlands) Explained

Christian Democratic Union
Native Name:	Christelijk-Democratische Unie
Colorcode:	E50066
Abbreviation:	CDU
Leader:	Harm van Houten
Merger:	Christian Social Party Christian Democratic Party League of Christian Socialists
Merged:	Labour Party
Newspaper:	De Strijder De Christen-democraat
Ideology:	Christian democracy Pacifism Christian left
Position:	Centre-left
Religion:	Reformed Churches in Repaired Union
State:	the Netherlands

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

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.