CDU/CSU (The Union)
A clear guide to CDU/CSU (The Union) (CDU/CSU) in Germany: its history, christian democracy ideology, leadership, and where it stands on the economy, social issues, and foreign policy.
Overview
- Country
- Germany
- Founded
- 1945
- Position
- Centre-right
- Leader
- Friedrich Merz (CDU); Markus Söder (CSU)
- Headquarters
- Berlin (CDU); Munich (CSU)
The Union is the alliance of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU). The two run as separate parties but sit together in the Bundestag. The Union won the 2025 federal election, and CDU leader Friedrich Merz became chancellor in May 2025, at the head of a coalition with the SPD. Markus Söder leads the CSU and is minister-president of Bavaria.
History
The CDU and CSU were founded after the Second World War to unite Catholic and Protestant conservatives. Konrad Adenauer, the first chancellor of West Germany, anchored the country in the West and the European project, and Ludwig Erhard's social market economy drove the postwar economic miracle.
Helmut Kohl oversaw reunification in 1990, and Angela Merkel governed from 2005 to 2021, steering Germany through the financial, eurozone and refugee crises. After defeat in 2021, Merz, a long-time Merkel rival, became leader and moved the party to the right on migration and the economy.
Economic Policy
The Union supports the social market economy, lower taxes on business, less bureaucracy and reform of the citizens' income benefit. In 2025 it agreed with the SPD to exempt defence spending above a threshold from the debt brake and to create a large infrastructure fund.
Foreign Policy
It is strongly pro-European and Atlanticist, and supports aid to Ukraine and a major expansion of the German armed forces.
Where They Stand
- Seeks tighter migration rules, including border turn-backs
- Supports lower business taxes and less bureaucracy
- Wants to reform the citizens' income benefit
- Backs a major expansion of the armed forces
- Strongly supports NATO, the EU and Ukraine
Electoral Record
The Union won 28.5 percent and 208 seats in 2025, making it the largest group in the Bundestag.
Position on the Political Compass
CDU/CSU (The Union) sits on the right-leaning side on economics and is more authoritarian on questions of social freedom and authority.
These positions are approximate and meant as a guide. Take the test to see how your own views compare.
Key Figures
Konrad Adenauer
Chancellor, 1949 to 1963
Founding chancellor of West Germany who tied it to the West.
Helmut Kohl
Chancellor, 1982 to 1998
Chancellor of reunification and a driving force behind the euro.
Angela Merkel
Chancellor, 2005 to 2021
Led Germany through successive crises over sixteen years.
Friedrich Merz
Chancellor since 2025
A former business lawyer who returned to lead the CDU in 2022.
Sources and Further Reading
- Christian Democratic Union of Germany (Wikipedia)en.wikipedia.org
- Christian Social Union in Bavaria (Wikipedia)en.wikipedia.org
- Official CDU websitecdu.de
Where do you stand?
Take the CoreOpinion Germany political test to see how your views compare with CDU/CSU (The Union) and the other parties.
Take the Germany Test
Social Policy
The Union is moderately conservative. Under Merz it has pushed for much tighter migration policy, including turning back asylum seekers at the border, and it opposed the previous government's cannabis legalisation and faster citizenship rules.