The ('''CDA''') (
Christian-democratic Political Party . The party is currently the biggest coalition partner in the
Fourth Balkenende Cabinet .
Since
1880 the sizeable
Catholic and
Protestant parties had worked together in the so-called coalition. They shared a common interest in
Public Funding Of Religious Schools . In
1888 they formed the first Christian-Democratic government, led by the Anti-Revolutionary
Aeneas Baron Mackay . The cooperation was not without problems and in
1894 the conservative,
Anti-papist s left the Protestant
Anti Revolutionary Party , to found the
Christian Historical Union . Main issues' dividing the Protestants and Catholics was the position of the Dutch Representation at the
Holy See and the future of the
Dutch Indies .
Since
1918 the three parties had a majority in both houses of
Parliament , and at least two of three parties were represented in the cabinet. This majority lasted until
1967 . After the war the three Christian-Democratic parties were the
Catholic People's Party (KVP), the Protestant
Anti Revolutionary Party (ARP), and the Protestant
Christian Historical Union (CHU).
In the sixties, the Dutch society became more secularized and the the three political leaders of the parties (
Norbert Schmelzer (KVP),
Barend Biesheuvel (ARP) and
Jur Mellema (CHU) made a public appearance, stating that the three parties would continue to work together. This caused progressive forces within the three parties, especially the ARP and KVP to regret their political affiliation. In 1968 they founded the
Political Parties Of Radicals , a leftwing party that sought cooperation with the social-democratic
Labour Party (PvdA). Locally and provincially however the three parties had long cooperated well, in some areas they formed one Christian-Democratic parliamentary party and proposed one list of candidates. In
1971 the three parties presented a common political program, which lay the foundation for the
Biesheuvel cabinets.
After the disastrous elections of
1972 the cooperation was given new momentum.
Piet Steenkamp , a member of the lower house of parliament for the KVP was appointed chairman of a council which was to lay the foundation for a federation of the three parties, and provide a common manifesto of principles. In
1973 this federation was officially formed, with Steenkamp as chairperson. The cooperation was frustrated by the formation of the
Cabinet Den Uyl , established by the leader of the social-democratic PvdA and prime minister of the Netherlands
Joop Den Uyl . Den Uyl refused to allow members of the CHU in the cabinet that he would lead. This led to a situation where the CHU, ARP and KVP formed a federation and had one
Parliamentary Party in both houses of parliament, but only the KVP and ARP supplied ministers and junior ministers. The cabinet Den Uyl was riddled with political and personal conflicts. Another issue that split the three parties was the place the
Bible would take in the new party.
In
1977 the parties presented a common list at the parliamentary elections. The KVP
Minister Of Justice ,
Dries Van Agt , was the top candidate. In the election campaign he made clear the CDA was a centrist party, that would not lean to the left or to the right. The three parties were able to stabilize their proportion of the vote. The election result forced Van Agt to start talks with Den Uyl. The animosity between Van Agt, who had been vice-prime-minister in the cabinet Den Uyl, and Den Uyl, frustrated the talks. After more than 300 days of negotiations, they finally officially failed, and Van Agt was able to negotiate a cabinet with the conservative liberal
VVD . The
Cabinet Van Agt-I had a very narrow majority. The unexpected cabinet with the VVD led to split within the newly founded CDA between more progressive and more conservative members. The progressives remained within the party, and were known as loyalists. On
October 11 ,
1980 , the three original parties ceased to exist and the CDA was founded as a unitary party. After the elections of
1981 , the VVD and the CDA had lost their majority, and the CDA was forced to cooperate with the PvdA. Van Agt became prime-minister and Den Uyl became vice-prime-minister. The
Cabinet was troubled by ideological and personal conflicts, and fell after one year.
After the
1982 Elections , a CDA/VVD
Cabinet was supported by a majority in parliament. The new CDA-leader,
Ruud Lubbers , set an ambitious reform program in motion, which included
Budget Cut s, reform of the
Old Age and
Disability Pension s and
Liberalization of public services. Lubbers won the
1986 and
1989 elections, he was not only supported by Christians, but also by non-religious people. In
1989 however, although the CDA had won the elections, they were unable to get a majority with their coalition partner, the VVD. The CDA was forced to cooperate with the PvdA. In the
Third Cabinet Lubbers , the ambitious reform project was continued, with some adaptations and protests from the PvdA.
The ideals.
During the
Tumultuous 2002 Elections , which saw the murder of
Pim Fortuyn , many people sought refuge with the CDA, hoping that this party could bring some stability to Dutch politics. The CDA led the
Balkenende Coalition , with the VVD and the
LPF . This cabinet fell due to internal struggles within the LPF. After the
2003 Elections , the Christian Democrats were forced to begin cabinet negotiations with the PvdA. Personal animosity between Balkenende and the leader of the PvdA,
Bos , frustrated these negotiations. Balkenende consequently formed a coalition with the
Conservative and
Progressive liberals. The coalition proposed an ambitious program of reforms, including more restrictive
Immigration laws,
Democratization of political institutions and reforms of the system of
Social Security and labour laws.
After the still lead by Balkenende, but now with the social-democratic PvdA and the social-Christian
ChristianUnion . The cabinet's policy is oriented at investing in society.
The CDA is a
Christian-democratic party, but the Bible is only seen as a source of inspiration for individual members of parliament. The party also has
Jewish ,
Islam ic and
Hindu members of parliament, and it favours the integration of Muslim minorities into Dutch culture and opposes radical Islam
{Link without Title} .
The party has four main ideals: shared responsibility, , the
Market , and
Social Institution s, like
Church es and
Union s should work together. This is called
Sphere Sovereignty , a core concept of Protestant political philosophy. Furthermore, this refers to the way the state should be organized. Not one level of the state should have total control, instead responsibility should be shared between
Local ,
Provincial , national and
European Government . This is called
Subsidiarity in Catholic political thought. With stewardship the Christian-democrats refer to the way we should treat our planet: the Earth is a gift from God. Therefore we should try to preserve our environment.
Practically, this means the CDA is a
Centrist party, with
Conservative leanings.
- The state deficit should be repaid in one generation, to cope with the effects of the Aging Population .
- The Toleration of Soft Drug s should come to an end, furthermore the practices of Prostitution , Abortion and Euthanasia should be more limited.
- The party is a staunch proponent of European Integration . Even the president Peter Balkenende supports Turkey's EU membership.
- The party wants to make schools and hospitals more responsible for their own policy, instead of being regulated by the government.
Chairperson of the Lower House parliamentary party:
:2007-now
Pieter Van Geel
:2002-2007 drs.
M.J.M. (Maxime) Verhagen
:2001-2002 mr.dr.
J.P. (Jan Peter) Balkenende
:1997-2001 mr.
J.G. (Jaap) De Hoop Scheffer
:1994-1997 drs.
E. (Enneus) Heerma
:1989-1994 mr.dr.
L.C. (Elco) Brinkman
:1982-1989 dr.
B. (Bert) De Vries
:1978-1982 drs.
R.F.M. (Ruud) Lubbers
:1977-1978 mr.
W. (Willem) Aantjes
Lijsttrekker
:2006 mr.dr. J.P. (Jan Peter) Balkenende
:2003 mr.dr. J.P. (Jan Peter) Balkenende
:2002 mr.dr. J.P. (Jan Peter) Balkenende
:1998 mr. J.G. (Jaap) De Hoop-Scheffer
:1994 mr.dr. L.C. (Elco) Brinkman
:1989 drs. R.F.M. (Ruud) Lubbers
:1986 drs. R.F.M. (Ruud) Lubbers
:1982 mr. A.A.M. (Dries) Van Agt
:1981 mr. A.A.M. (Dries) Van Agt
:1977 mr.
A.A.M. (Dries) Van Agt
:2006 - 41
:2003 - 44
:2002 - 43
:1998 - 29
:1994 - 34
:1989 - 54
:1986 - 54
:1982 - 45
:1981 - 44
:1977 - 48
:1972 - 49 (KVP 27, ARP 14, CHU 7)
:1971 - 58 (KVP 35, ARP 13, CHU 10)
:1967 - 70 (KVP 43, ARP 15, CHU 12)
:1963 - 76 (KVP 50, ARP 13, CHU 13)
:1959 - 75 (KVP 49, ARP 14, CHU 12)
:1956 - 77 (KVP 49, ARP 15, CHU 13)
:2007 - 21
:2003 - 23
:1999 - 20
:1995 - 19
:1991 - 27
:1987 - 26
:1983 - 26
:1979 - 27
:1975 - 24
:2004 - 7
:1999 - 9
:1994 - 10
:1989 - 10
:1984 - 8
:1979 – 10
By far, the CDA has the most members of municipal and provincial councils in the Netherlands. Furthermore, it cooperates in most municipal and provincial governments. 135 out of the 414 Dutch mayors are member of the CDA.
The CDA is mainly supported by religious voters, both Catholics and Protestants. These tend to live in
Rural Area s and tend to be
Elderly . In some periods, however, the CDA has functioned as a centre party, attracting people from all classes and religions.
The CDA has 69 560 members in 520 municipals branches. Its current chairperson is Peter van Heeswijk.
The youth party of the CDA is the Christian-Democratic Youth Appeal (CDJA, Christen-Democratische Jongeren Appèl ). The CDA publishes the CDA-magazine monthly, and its scientific bureau publishes the Christian Democratic Explorations (Christen-Democratische Verkenningen).
As an effect of
Pillarization , the CDA still has many personal and ideological ties with religious organizations, such as the broad casting foundations
KRO and
NCRV , the paper
Trouw , the employers organizations
NCW and the union
CNV .
The CDA is a member of the
European People’s Party and the
Christian-Democratic International
As a large Christian-democratic party the CDA is comparable to other European Christian-democratic parties as the German
CDU . It is the Netherlands' largest rightwing party, but is more centrist than the British
Conservatives . In American politics, the CDA is comparable to centrist
Republican s and more conservative
Democrat s.
