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Christian Union (Netherlands)

Updated: 12/11/2025, 12:56:58 PM Wikipedia source

The Christian Union (Dutch: ChristenUnie [ˌkrɪstənˈyni, -təˈʔy-], CU) is a Christian democratic political party in the Netherlands. The CU is a centrist party, maintaining more progressive stances on economic, immigration and environmental issues while holding more socially conservative positions on issues, such as opposing abortion and euthanasia. The party describes itself as "social Christian". The CU was founded in 2000 as a merger of the Reformed Political League (GPV) and Reformatory Political Federation (RPF). After doubling its seat tally in the 2006 Dutch general election, it became the smallest member of the fourth Balkenende cabinet, and since that time has been likewise part of the third Rutte cabinet and the fourth Rutte cabinet. In some elections it forms an alliance with the Calvinist Reformed Political Party (SGP), which, unlike the CU, is a testimonial party. Primarily a Protestant party, the CU bases its policies on the Bible, and takes the theological principles of charity and stewardship as bases for its support for public expenditure and environmentalism. It seeks for government to uphold Christian morality, but supports freedom of religion under the doctrine of sphere sovereignty. The party is moderately Eurosceptic; it was formerly in the European Parliament with the European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR Group) and European People's Party Group (EPP Group). It is a member of the European Christian Political Party.

Infobox

Abbreviation
CU
Leader
Mirjam Bikker (list)
Chairman
Marco Vermin
Leader in the Senate
Tineke Huizinga
Leader in the House of Representatives
Mirjam Bikker
Founded
22 January 2000 (2000-01-22)
Merger of
Reformed Political League Reformatory Political Federation
Headquarters
Partijbureau ChristenUnieJohan van Oldebarneveltlaan 46, Amersfoort
Youth wing
PerspectieF
Think tank
Mr. G. Groen van Prinsterer Stichting
Membership (January 2025)
23,975
Ideology
mw- Christian democracySocial conservatism
Political position
Economic: Centre to centre-leftSocial: Centre-right
Religion
Orthodox Protestant[note 1]
European affiliation
European Christian Political Party
European Parliament group
ECR Group (2009–2019)EPP Group (2019–2024)
Benelux Parliament group
Christian Group
Colours
mw- Sky blue Dark blue
Slogan
Geef geloof een stem('Give faith a voice/vote')
Senate
3 / 75
House of Representatives
3 / 150
European Parliament
0 / 31
Provincial councils
21 / 570
King's Commissioners
1 / 12
Benelux Parliament
2 / 21

Tables

· Election results › House of Representatives
2002
2002
Election
2002
Lead candidate
Kars Veling
List
List
Votes
240,953
%
2.54
Seats
4 / 150
+/–
1
Government
Opposition
2003
2003
Election
2003
Lead candidate
André Rouvoet
List
List
Votes
204,649
%
2.12
Seats
3 / 150
+/–
1
Government
Opposition
2006
2006
Election
2006
Lead candidate
List
List
390,969
Votes
3.97
%
6 / 150
Seats
3
+/–
Coalition
2010
2010
Election
2010
Lead candidate
List
List
305,094
Votes
3.24
%
5 / 150
Seats
1
+/–
Opposition
2012
2012
Election
2012
Lead candidate
Arie Slob
List
List
Votes
294,586
%
3.13
Seats
5 / 150
+/–
Government
Opposition
2017
2017
Election
2017
Lead candidate
Gert-Jan Segers
List
List
Votes
356,271
%
3.39
Seats
5 / 150
+/–
Government
Coalition
2021
2021
Election
2021
Lead candidate
List
List
350,523
Votes
3.37
%
5 / 150
Seats
+/–
Coalition
2023
2023
Election
2023
Lead candidate
Mirjam Bikker
List
List
Votes
212,532
%
2.04
Seats
3 / 150
+/–
2
Government
Opposition
2025
2025
Election
2025
Lead candidate
List
List
201,361
Votes
1.90
%
3 / 150
Seats
+/–
TBA
Election
Lead candidate
List
Votes
%
Seats
+/–
Government
2002
Kars Veling
List
240,953
2.54
4 / 150
1
Opposition
2003
André Rouvoet
List
204,649
2.12
3 / 150
1
Opposition
2006
List
390,969
3.97
6 / 150
3
Coalition
2010
List
305,094
3.24
5 / 150
1
Opposition
2012
Arie Slob
List
294,586
3.13
5 / 150
Opposition
2017
Gert-Jan Segers
List
356,271
3.39
5 / 150
Coalition
2021
List
350,523
3.37
5 / 150
Coalition
2023
Mirjam Bikker
List
212,532
2.04
3 / 150
2
Opposition
2025
List
201,361
1.90
3 / 150
TBA
· Election results › Senate
1999
1999
Election
1999
Seats
4 / 75
+/–
2
2003
2003
Election
2003
Seats
2 / 75
+/–
2
2007
2007
Election
2007
Seats
4 / 75
+/–
2
2011
2011
Election
2011
Seats
2 / 75
+/–
2
2015
2015
Election
2015
Votes
32
Seats
3 / 75
+/–
1
2019
2019
Election
2019
Votes
33
%
5.03
Seats
4 / 75
+/–
1
2023
2023
Election
2023
Votes
23
%
3.73
Seats
3 / 75
+/–
1
Election
Votes
%
Seats
+/–
1999
4 / 75
2
2003
2 / 75
2
2007
4 / 75
2
2011
2 / 75
2
2015
32
3 / 75
1
2019
33
5.03
4 / 75
1
2023
23
3.73
3 / 75
1
· Election results › European Parliament
2004
2004
Election
2004
List
List
Votes
279,880
%
5.87
Seats
1 / 27
+/–
New
EP Group
IND/DEM
2009
2009
Election
2009
List
List
Votes
310,540
%
6.82
Seats
1 / 25
+/–
0
EP Group
ECR
1 / 26
1 / 26
Election
1 / 26
List
0
2014
2014
Election
2014
List
List
Votes
364,843
%
7.67
Seats
1 / 26
+/–
0
2019
2019
Election
2019
List
List
Votes
375,660
%
6.83
Seats
1 / 26
+/–
0
EP Group
EPP
1 / 29
1 / 29
Election
1 / 29
List
0
2024
2024
Election
2024
List
List
Votes
180,060
%
2.89
Seats
0 / 31
+/–
1
EP Group
–
Election
List
Votes
%
Seats
+/–
EP Group
2004
List
279,880
5.87
1 / 27
New
IND/DEM
2009
List
310,540
6.82
1 / 25
0
ECR
1 / 26
0
2014
List
364,843
7.67
1 / 26
0
2019
List
375,660
6.83
1 / 26
0
EPP
1 / 29
0
2024
List
180,060
2.89
0 / 31
1
–

References

  1. In a joint list with Reformed Political Party.
  2. "Orthodox Protestantism" is a term which is used in the Netherlands to refer to conservative forms of Protestantism in c
  3. University of Groningen
    https://www.rug.nl/research/dnpp/themas/ledentallen/ledental-2025
  4. Parties and Elections in Europe
    http://www.parties-and-elections.eu/netherlands.html
  5. The Democratic Society
    https://web.archive.org/web/20191213142330/https://www.demsoc.org/2014/05/11/christianunion-cu-political-reformed-party-sgp/
  7. Northern Europe and the Making of the EU's Mediterranean and Middle East Policies
  8. European Election Database
    https://nsd.no/european_election_database/country/netherlands/parties.html
  9. Trouw
    https://www.trouw.nl/nieuws/uitersten-in-politiek-landschap-winnen-terrein~bf8c72e9/
  11. Governance and Politics of the Netherlands
  12. Benelux Parliament
    https://www.beneluxparl.eu/nl/politieke-fracties/
  13. The Welfare State as Crisis Manager: Explaining the Diversity of Policy Responses to Economic Crisis
    https://books.google.com/books?id=BtMQsESYcWwC&pg=PA193
  14. Historical Dictionary of the Netherlands
    https://books.google.com/books?id=GU-xCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA71
  15. Parlement.com
    https://www.parlement.com/id/vh8lnhrp8wsy/links_en_rechts
  16. Governance and Politics of the Netherlands
  17. DutchNews
    https://www.dutchnews.nl/2021/02/election-watch-the-lowdown-on-the-main-dutch-political-parties/
  18. (in Dutch) ChristenUnie Parlement & Politiek
    http://www.parlement.com/9353000/1f/j9vvhy5i95k8zxl/vh8lnhrouwy9
  19. Reformatorisch Dagblad
    https://www.rd.nl/artikel/1090693-een-kwarteeuw-christenunie-van-de-marge-naar-de-macht-en-weer-terug
  20. RTL Nieuws
    https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/nieuws/politiek/artikel/5359143/wie-mirjam-bikker-de-opvolger-van-gert-jan-segers-bij-christenunie
  21. app.nos.nl
    https://app.nos.nl/nieuws/tk2023/
  22. The Securitization of Migration in the Netherlands During the European Refugee Crisis: A critical discourse analysis of the political migration debate and the influence of the populist radical right
    https://edepot.wur.nl/463575
  23. ChristenUnie.nl
    https://www.christenunie.nl/standpunten
  24. (in Dutch) ChristenUnie op 1 in energiebarometer Greenpeace Christian Union
    http://lansingerland.christenunie.nl/k/n10584/news/view/138885/113707/ChristenUnie-op-1-in-energiebarometer-Greenpeace.html
  25. Andeweg, R. and G. Irwin Politics and Governance in the Netherlands, Basingstoke (Palgrave) p.49
  26. (in Dutch) CU is niet meer 'christelijk-sociaal' Trouw
    https://www.trouw.nl/tr/nl/4500/Politiek/article/detail/1869670/2011/04/04/CU-is-niet-meer-christelijk-sociaal.dhtml
  27. "Europa - ChristenUnie.nl"
    https://www.christenunie.nl/standpunt/europa
  28. Brabants Dagblad
    https://www.bd.nl/oss-e-o/waarom-rene-peters-ooit-de-roze-wethouder-van-oss-tegen-een-verbod-op-homogenezing-stemde~aa2585af
  29. Parlement & Politiek
    https://www.parlement.com/id/vh8lnhrouwxt/tweede_kamerfractie_christenunie_cu
  30. Parlement & Politiek
    https://www.parlement.com/id/vh8lnhrqlyx7/eerste_kamerfractie_christenunie_cu
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