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IntroductionIntroduction

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Introduction

The ChristianUnion was founded on January 22, 2000 as a merge of two parliamentary parties (GPV and RPF). A rather young party, however, one with a rich history.

The ChristianUnion builds further upon the knowledge of great thinkers in the Christian tradition, like Augustine, Martin Luther and John Calvin. The party is in the line of tradition of Mr. Groen van Prinsterer (1801-1976). An advocate for politics and education based on biblical principles.

We have set our self the mission to serve society by making God’s will more prevalent in society’s functioning. In order to reach this goal we aim for a strong political representation on every political level. The ChristianUnion frames its political views on current political issues in obedience to the Word of God.

We constructively seek ways to make a Biblically inspired political message heard in all political and social forums. Therefore, our representatives voice a Christian view on politics and society at all levels ranging from local councils to the European Parliament.

But what exactly do we stand for? Read our Founding Declaration and our.

On this website you can also find information about our party organization and politicians.

Local associations
The ChristenUnie is a national federation of 215 local associations. The members of the party are formally members of the local associations. All the local association together form the national party.

More over 400 councillors, 70 aldermen, 8 mayors and hundreds of volunteers represent the ChristenUnie in the Dutch local municipalities.

Provincial branches
Provincial politics in the Netherlands are a vital link between the local authorities and the national government. The ChristianUnion works on its provincial programmes through 12 provincial branches: one in every province. A provincial branch is a group of all local associations in that province.

The ChristenUnie is represented by 38 councillors in the provincial councils and has 6 provincial executives.

National Party Congress
The local associations are formally the members of the party. Therefore the general assembly of the party (Uniecongres) is the meeting of the representatives of the local associations. Also the linked youth organization (PerspectieF) and the association of councillors (Bestuurdersvereniging) have the right of speech and voting rights. It appoints the national board and decides on the candidates lists for the elections of the First Chamber and Second Chamber of the national parliament and the European Parliament and has the last say over the party program.

In addition to the party congress the ChristenUnie also has a member congress (Ledencongres). This is the national meeting of the members of the local associations where every individual member can directly discuss and vote on the political direction of the party.

National board
The ChristenUnie is managed by the national board which is chaired by the party’s president. For international relations the board has an International Secretary.

Party Office
The party’s headquarters is located in the city of Amersfoort. In this office staff members work on campaigning and communication, trainings, international projects and the financial and member administration. Also the Research Institute and the youth organization are settled in the Party Office.

The ChristenUnie is founded on January 22, 2000. A new party, but with a rich history.

  • The ChristenUnie builds on the knowledge of great thinkers in the christian tradition like Augustine, Luther and Calvin.
  • The ChristenUnie is in the line of tradition of Mr. Groen van Prinsterer (1801-1876) an advocate for politics and education based on biblical principles.
  • In 1879 the Anti Revolutionary Party (ARP) is founded by Abraham Kuyper, the ARP is the first Christian political party of the Netherlands.
  • In 1948 the Reformed Political Alliance (Gereformeerd Politieke Partij, GVP) is founded by reformed Christians.
  • In 1975, the growing distrust about the course of the CDA (largest Dutch Christian-democratic party) results in the founding of Reformed Political Federation (Reformatorische Politieke Federatie, RPF).
  • Between the years of 1990 and 2000 the contacts between the GPV and RPF intensify.
  • On January 22, 2000 the delegates of both the GPV and RPF agree with a political fusion: the ChristenUnie is born.
  • On November 8 2003, the delegates of both GPV and RPF choose to dissolve their parties and go on together as the ChristenUnie.

A new party with a rich history of thought.
The message of Christian politics is still up to date and relevant.