Christian Democratic Appeal
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The Christian Democratic Appeal, Dutch: Christen-Democratisch Appèl (shortened CDA), is a political party in the Netherlands. It was the merger of three major former political parties: Anti-Revolutionary Party (ARP), Christian Historical Union (CHU) and Catholic People's Party (KVP).
The party was established on 11 October 1980. From 1982 to 2006, the party was very popular in the Netherlands. Their support was strongest in the 1986, 1989, 2002, 2003 and 2006 elections. In the 2010 elections, they lost 20 seats and received less than half of the votes from the previous election. In the 2012 elections, they received 801,620 and lost 8 more seats. In the 2017 elections they won 19 seats (+6), in the 2021 elections 15 (-4), and in the 2023 elections 5 (-10).
The party supports Christian democracy.[1][2][3] The party can also have Jewish, Muslim and Hindu members of parliament. The party heavily supports the European Union[4] and environmentalism.[5] They call themselves a moderate party, but they have been in an alliance with the centre-right People's Party for Freedom and Democracy. The CDA believes that the toleration of "soft drugs" like marijuana should stop,[6] and practices like abortion[7] and prostitution should be limited. They also want a more friendly and open immigration policy. However, they do want immigrants to integrate into Dutch culture.[8]
On 12 June 2021, MP Pieter Omtzigt left the CDA and became an independent politician.[9]
Political leaders
- Dries van Agt - 1976-1982
- Ruud Lubbers - 1982-1994
- Elco Brinkman - 1994
- Enneüs Heerma - 1994-1997
- Jaap de Hoop Scheffer - 1997-2001
- Jan Peter Balkenende - 2001-2010
- Maxime Verhagen - 2010-2012
- Sybrand van Haersma Buma - 2012-2019
- Pieter Heerma - 2019-2020 (actually only parliamentary leader)
- Hugo de Jonge - 2020
- Wopke Hoekstra - 2020-2023
- Henri Bontenbal - 2023-
Christian Democratic Appeal Media
Piet Steenkamp, founder and chairman from 1973 until 1980
Dries van Agt, CDA leader from 1976 until 1982 and Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 1977 until 1982
Ruud Lubbers, CDA Leader from 1982 until 1994 and Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 1982 until 1994.
Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, CDA Leader from 1997 until 2001.
Jan Peter Balkenende, CDA Leader from 2001 until 2010 and Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 2002 until 2010.
Wopke Hoekstra, CDA Leader from 2020 until 2023.
Henri Bontenbal, CDA Leader since August 2023.
EPP Conference on Lisbon Strategy 25 November 2004
Dutch MP (CDA) Hanke Bruins-Slot, April 2014
EPP Summit, Brussels, May 2019
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References
- ↑ Barbara Wejnert (26 July 2010). Democratic Paths and Trends. Emerald Group Publishing. p. 28. ISBN 978-0-85724-091-0. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
- ↑ Christopher Anderson (1995). Blaming the Government: Citizens and the Economy in Five European Democracies. M.E. Sharpe. p. 64. ISBN 978-1-56324-448-3. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
- ↑ T. Banchoff (28 June 1999). Legitimacy and the European Union. Taylor & Francis. p. 126. ISBN 978-0-415-18188-4. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ↑ https://www.cda.nl/standpunten/europese-unie/ (Dutch)
- ↑ https://www.cda.nl/standpunten/milieu/ (Dutch)
- ↑ https://www.cda.nl/standpunten/drugs-alcohol-en-tabak/ (Dutch)
- ↑ https://www.cda.nl/standpunten/abortus/ (Dutch)
- ↑ https://www.cda.nl/standpunten/immigratie-en-integratie/ (Dutch)
- ↑ Pieter Omtzigt quits the CDA after nearly 20 years as an MP, DutchNews.nl, 12 June 2021