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Christian Social Union in Bavaria

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Christian Social Union in Bavaria

The Christian Social Union in Bavaria (German: , CSU) is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. Having a regionalist identity, the CSU operates only in Bavaria while its larger counterpart, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), operates in the other fifteen states of Germany. Founded in 1945, the CSU is considered the de facto successor of the Weimar-era Catholic Bavarian People's Party. At the federal level, the CSU forms a common faction in the Bundestag with the CDU which is frequently referred to as the Union Faction (die Unionsfraktion) or simply CDU/CSU. The CSU has had 44 seats in the Bundestag since the 2025 federal election, making it currently the sixth largest of the seven parties represented and the largest parliamentary faction as part of CDU/CSU with 208 seats. The CSU is a member of the European People's Party and the International Democracy Union. Party leader Markus Söder serves as Minister-President of Bavaria, a position that CSU representatives have held from 1946 to 1954 and again since 1957. From 1962 to 2008 and from 2013 to 2018, the CSU had the absolute majority in the Bavarian Landtag.

Infobox

Abbreviation
CSU
Leader
Markus Söder
Secretary General
Martin Huber
Founded
13 October 1945 (1945-10-13)
Preceded by
Bavarian People's Party (de facto)
Headquarters
Munich, Bavaria, Germany
Newspaper
Bayernkurier (1950–2019)
Youth wing
Young Union
Membership (2024)
125,300
Ideology
Christian democracy Conservatism (German) Regionalism
Political position
Centre-right
National affiliation
CDU/CSU (since 1949)
Regional affiliation
German Social Union (1990–1993)
European affiliation
European People's Party
European Parliament group
European People's Party Group
International affiliation
International Democracy Union
Colours
Blue Green
Bundestag Bavarian seats
44 / 101
Bundesrat Bavarian seats
4 / 6
Landtag of Bavaria
85 / 205
European Parliament
6 / 96
Heads of State Governments
1 / 16

Tables

· Leaders › Party chairmen
1st
1st
Chairman
1st
Chairman
Josef Müller
From
17 December 1945
To
28 May 1949
2nd
2nd
Chairman
2nd
Chairman
Hans Ehard
From
28 May 1949
To
22 January 1955
3rd
3rd
Chairman
3rd
Chairman
Hanns Seidel
From
22 January 1955
To
16 February 1961
4th
4th
Chairman
4th
Chairman
Franz Josef Strauss
From
18 March 1961
To
3 October 1988
5th
5th
Chairman
5th
Chairman
Theodor Waigel
From
16 November 1988
To
16 January 1999
6th
6th
Chairman
6th
Chairman
Edmund Stoiber
From
16 January 1999
To
29 September 2007
7th
7th
Chairman
7th
Chairman
Erwin Huber
From
29 September 2007
To
25 October 2008
8th
8th
Chairman
8th
Chairman
Horst Seehofer
From
25 October 2008
To
19 January 2019
9th
9th
Chairman
9th
Chairman
Markus Söder
From
19 January 2019
To
Present day
Chairman
From
To
1st
Josef Müller
17 December 1945
28 May 1949
2nd
Hans Ehard
28 May 1949
22 January 1955
3rd
Hanns Seidel
22 January 1955
16 February 1961
4th
Franz Josef Strauss
18 March 1961
3 October 1988
5th
Theodor Waigel
16 November 1988
16 January 1999
6th
Edmund Stoiber
16 January 1999
29 September 2007
7th
Erwin Huber
29 September 2007
25 October 2008
8th
Horst Seehofer
25 October 2008
19 January 2019
9th
Markus Söder
19 January 2019
Present day
· Leaders › Ministers-president
Fritz Schäffer
Fritz Schäffer
Minister-President
Fritz Schäffer
From
28 May 1945
To
28 September 1945
Hans Ehard (first time)
Hans Ehard (first time)
Minister-President
Hans Ehard (first time)
From
21 December 1946
To
14 December 1954
Hanns Seidel
Hanns Seidel
Minister-President
Hanns Seidel
From
16 October 1957
To
22 January 1960
Hans Ehard (second time)
Hans Ehard (second time)
Minister-President
Hans Ehard (second time)
From
26 January 1960
To
11 December 1962
Alfons Goppel
Alfons Goppel
Minister-President
Alfons Goppel
From
11 December 1962
To
6 November 1978
Franz Josef Strauss
Franz Josef Strauss
Minister-President
Franz Josef Strauss
From
6 November 1978
To
3 October 1988
Max Streibl
Max Streibl
Minister-President
Max Streibl
From
19 October 1988
To
27 May 1993
Edmund Stoiber
Edmund Stoiber
Minister-President
Edmund Stoiber
From
28 May 1993
To
30 September 2007
Günther Beckstein
Günther Beckstein
Minister-President
Günther Beckstein
From
9 October 2007
To
27 October 2008
Horst Seehofer
Horst Seehofer
Minister-President
Horst Seehofer
From
27 October 2008
To
13 March 2018
Markus Söder
Markus Söder
Minister-President
Markus Söder
From
16 March 2018
To
Present day
Minister-President
From
To
Fritz Schäffer
28 May 1945
28 September 1945
Hans Ehard (first time)
21 December 1946
14 December 1954
Hanns Seidel
16 October 1957
22 January 1960
Hans Ehard (second time)
26 January 1960
11 December 1962
Alfons Goppel
11 December 1962
6 November 1978
Franz Josef Strauss
6 November 1978
3 October 1988
Max Streibl
19 October 1988
27 May 1993
Edmund Stoiber
28 May 1993
30 September 2007
Günther Beckstein
9 October 2007
27 October 2008
Horst Seehofer
27 October 2008
13 March 2018
Markus Söder
16 March 2018
Present day
· Leaders › Regional Leadership
District Association
Chairman
Lower Bavaria
Christian Bernreiter
Upper Bavaria
Ilse Aigner
Upper Palatinate
Albert Füracker
Lower Franconia
Steffen Vogel
Middle Franconia
Joachim Herrmann
Upper Franconia
Hans-Peter Friedrich
Swabia
Klaus Holetschek
Augsburg
Volker Ullrich
Munich
Georg Eisenreich
Nuremberg - Fürth - Schwabach
Michael Frieser
· Election results › Federal parliament (<i>Bundestag</i>)
Votes
Votes
Election
Votes
Constituency
%
Constituency
Votes
Party list
%
1949
1949
Election
1949
Constituency
1,380,448
Party list
5 ( )
Party list
24 / 402
+/–
CDU/CSU–FDP–DP
1953
1953
Election
1953
Constituency
2,450,286
Constituency
8 ( )
Party list
2,427,387
Party list
8 ( )
Seats
52 / 509
+/–
28
Status
CDU/CSU–FDP–DP
1957
1957
Election
1957
Constituency
3,186,150
Constituency
10 ( )
Party list
3,133,060
Party list
10 ( )
Seats
55 / 519
+/–
3
Status
CDU/CSU–DP
1961
1961
Election
1961
Constituency
3,104,742
Constituency
9 ( )
Party list
3,014,471
Party list
9 ( )
Seats
50 / 521
+/–
5
Status
CDU/CSU–FDP
1965
1965
Election
1965
Constituency
3,204,648
Constituency
9 ( )
Party list
3,136,506
Party list
9 ( )
Seats
49 / 518
+/–
1
Status
CDU/CSU–SPD
1969
1969
Election
1969
Constituency
3,094,176
Constituency
9 ( )
Party list
3,115,652
Party list
9 ( )
Seats
49 / 518
+/–
Status
Opposition
1972
1972
Election
1972
Constituency
3,620,625
Constituency
9 ( )
Party list
3,615,183
Party list
9 ( )
Seats
48 / 518
+/–
1
Status
Opposition
1976
1976
Election
1976
Constituency
4,008,514
Constituency
10 ( )
Party list
4,027,499
Party list
10 ( )
Seats
53 / 518
+/–
5
Status
Opposition
1980
1980
Election
1980
Constituency
3,941,365
Constituency
10 ( )
Party list
3,908,459
Party list
10 ( )
Seats
52 / 519
+/–
1
Status
Opposition (1980–82)
CDU/CSU–FDP (1982–83)
CDU/CSU–FDP (1982–83)
Election
CDU/CSU–FDP (1982–83)
1983
1983
Election
1983
Constituency
4,318,800
Constituency
11 ( )
Party list
4,140,865
Party list
10 ( )
Seats
53 / 520
+/–
1
Status
CDU/CSU–FDP
1987
1987
Election
1987
Constituency
3,859,244
Constituency
10 ( )
Party list
3,715,827
Party list
9 ( )
Seats
49 / 519
+/–
4
Status
CDU/CSU–FDP
1990
1990
Election
1990
Constituency
3,423,904
Constituency
7 ( )
Party list
3,302,980
Party list
7 ( )
Seats
51 / 662
+/–
2
Status
CDU/CSU–FDP
1994
1994
Election
1994
Constituency
3,657,627
Constituency
6 ( )
Party list
3,427,196
Party list
7 ( )
Seats
50 / 672
+/–
1
Status
CDU/CSU–FDP
1998
1998
Election
1998
Constituency
3,602,472
Constituency
7 ( )
Party list
3,324,480
Party list
6 ( )
Seats
47 / 669
+/–
3
Status
Opposition
2002
2002
Election
2002
Constituency
4,311,178
Constituency
9 ( )
Party list
4,315,080
Party list
9 ( )
Seats
58 / 603
+/–
11
Status
Opposition
2005
2005
Election
2005
Constituency
3,889,990
Constituency
8 ( )
Party list
3,494,309
Party list
7 ( )
Seats
46 / 614
+/–
12
Status
CDU/CSU–SPD
2009
2009
Election
2009
Constituency
3,191,000
Constituency
7 ( )
Party list
2,830,238
Party list
6 ( )
Seats
45 / 622
+/–
1
Status
CDU/CSU–FDP
2013
2013
Election
2013
Constituency
3,544,079
Constituency
8 ( )
Party list
3,243,569
Party list
7 ( )
Seats
56 / 631
+/–
11
Status
CDU/CSU–SPD
2017
2017
Election
2017
Constituency
3,255,604
Constituency
7 ( )
Party list
2,869,744
Party list
6 ( )
Seats
46 / 709
+/–
10
Status
CDU/CSU–SPD
2021
2021
Election
2021
Constituency
2,787,904
Constituency
6 ( )
Party list
2,402,826
Party list
5 ( )
Seats
45 / 735
+/–
1
Status
Opposition
2025
2025
Election
2025
Constituency
3,271,730
Constituency
6 ( )
Party list
2,963,732
Party list
6 ( )
Seats
44 / 630
+/–
1
Status
CDU/CSU–SPD
Election
Constituency
Party list
Seats
+/–
Status
Votes
%
Votes
%
1949
1,380,448
5 ( )
24 / 402
CDU/CSU–FDP–DP
1953
2,450,286
8 ( )
2,427,387
8 ( )
52 / 509
28
CDU/CSU–FDP–DP
1957
3,186,150
10 ( )
3,133,060
10 ( )
55 / 519
3
CDU/CSU–DP
1961
3,104,742
9 ( )
3,014,471
9 ( )
50 / 521
5
CDU/CSU–FDP
1965
3,204,648
9 ( )
3,136,506
9 ( )
49 / 518
1
CDU/CSU–SPD
1969
3,094,176
9 ( )
3,115,652
9 ( )
49 / 518
Opposition
1972
3,620,625
9 ( )
3,615,183
9 ( )
48 / 518
1
Opposition
1976
4,008,514
10 ( )
4,027,499
10 ( )
53 / 518
5
Opposition
1980
3,941,365
10 ( )
3,908,459
10 ( )
52 / 519
1
Opposition (1980–82)
CDU/CSU–FDP (1982–83)
1983
4,318,800
11 ( )
4,140,865
10 ( )
53 / 520
1
CDU/CSU–FDP
1987
3,859,244
10 ( )
3,715,827
9 ( )
49 / 519
4
CDU/CSU–FDP
1990
3,423,904
7 ( )
3,302,980
7 ( )
51 / 662
2
CDU/CSU–FDP
1994
3,657,627
6 ( )
3,427,196
7 ( )
50 / 672
1
CDU/CSU–FDP
1998
3,602,472
7 ( )
3,324,480
6 ( )
47 / 669
3
Opposition
2002
4,311,178
9 ( )
4,315,080
9 ( )
58 / 603
11
Opposition
2005
3,889,990
8 ( )
3,494,309
7 ( )
46 / 614
12
CDU/CSU–SPD
2009
3,191,000
7 ( )
2,830,238
6 ( )
45 / 622
1
CDU/CSU–FDP
2013
3,544,079
8 ( )
3,243,569
7 ( )
56 / 631
11
CDU/CSU–SPD
2017
3,255,604
7 ( )
2,869,744
6 ( )
46 / 709
10
CDU/CSU–SPD
2021
2,787,904
6 ( )
2,402,826
5 ( )
45 / 735
1
Opposition
2025
3,271,730
6 ( )
2,963,732
6 ( )
44 / 630
1
CDU/CSU–SPD
· Election results › European Parliament
1979
1979
Election
1979
Votes
2,817,120
%
10 ( )
Seats
8 / 81
1984
1984
Election
1984
Votes
2,109,130
%
8 ( )
Seats
7 / 81
+/–
1
1989
1989
Election
1989
Votes
2,326,277
%
8 ( )
Seats
7 / 81
+/–
1994
1994
Election
1994
Votes
2,393,374
%
6 ( )
Seats
8 / 99
+/–
1
1999
1999
Election
1999
Votes
2,540,007
%
9 ( )
Seats
10 / 99
+/–
2
2004
2004
Election
2004
Votes
2,063,900
%
8 ( )
Seats
9 / 99
+/–
1
2009
2009
Election
2009
Votes
1,896,762
%
7 ( )
Seats
8 / 99
+/–
1
2014
2014
Election
2014
Votes
1,567,258
%
5 ( )
Seats
5 / 96
+/–
3
2019
2019
Election
2019
Votes
2,354,816
%
6 ( )
Seats
6 / 96
+/–
1
2024
2024
Election
2024
Votes
2,513,300
%
6 ( )
Seats
6 / 96
+/–
Election
Votes
%
Seats
+/–
1979
2,817,120
10 ( )
8 / 81
1984
2,109,130
8 ( )
7 / 81
1
1989
2,326,277
8 ( )
7 / 81
1994
2,393,374
6 ( )
8 / 99
1
1999
2,540,007
9 ( )
10 / 99
2
2004
2,063,900
8 ( )
9 / 99
1
2009
1,896,762
7 ( )
8 / 99
1
2014
1,567,258
5 ( )
5 / 96
3
2019
2,354,816
6 ( )
6 / 96
1
2024
2,513,300
6 ( )
6 / 96

References

  1. Deutsche Welle
    https://www.dw.com/en/spd-green-party-fdp-cdu-left-party-afd/a-38085900
  2. Immigration and integration policy in Europe : why politics -- and the centre-right -- matter
    https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/461254258
  3. Multi-Level Party Politics in Western Europe
  4. Developments in German Politics
    https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/885477730
  6. CSU
    https://www.csu.de/common/download/20220928_V4_Manual_Basislinie_A4_Einzelseiten.pdf
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    https://books.google.com/books?id=V1uzkNq8xfIC&pg=PA364
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    http://www.parties-and-elections.eu/germany.html
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    https://books.google.com/books?id=ipThj08R-V4C&pg=PA58
  12. Handbook on Cohesion Policy in the EU
    https://books.google.com/books?id=S2rPDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA210
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    https://research.tees.ac.uk/ws/files/6456514/Publisher_s_PDF.pdf
  14. Germany: A Reference Guide from the Renaissance to the Present
    https://books.google.com/books?id=exMn24SA7fMC&pg=PA310
  15. bundeswahlleiter
    https://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/bundestagswahlen/2021/ergebnisse.html
  16. American Institute for Contemporary German Studies
    https://web.archive.org/web/20081003113436/http://www.aicgs.org/analysis/wahlen/clemens.aspx
  17. "The Economist: Old soldiers march into the unknown"
    https://www.economist.com/europe/2008/08/07/old-soldiers-march-into-the-unknown
  18. the Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/26/germany-election-worst-ever-result-momentarily-silences-cdu
  19. bundestagswahl2025
    https://bundestagswahl2025.bayern.de
  20. HSS
    https://www.hss.de/ueber-uns/
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