Christian Democratic Appeal

Christian Democratic Appeal
Christen-Democratisch Appèl
AbbreviationCDA
LeaderHenri Bontenbal (list)
ChairpersonJean Wiertz (list)
Leader in the SenateTheo Bovens (list)
Leader in the House of RepresentativesHenri Bontenbal (list)
Leader in the European ParliamentTom Berendsen
Founded23 June 1973 (pre-federation)
11 October 1980 (party)
Merger ofCatholic People's Party
Anti-Revolutionary Party
Christian Historical Union
HeadquartersBuitenom 18,
The Hague
Youth wingChristian Democratic Youth Appeal
Think tankWetenschappelijk Instituut voor het CDA
Membership (January 2024)Decrease 29,721[1]
IdeologyChristian democracy
Conservatism
Political positionCentre to centre-right
Regional affiliationChristian Group[2]
European affiliationEuropean People's Party
European Parliament groupEuropean People's Party
International affiliationCentrist Democrat International
Colours  Green
Senate
6 / 75
House of Representatives
5 / 150
Provincial councils
42 / 570
European Parliament
3 / 31
Benelux Parliament
1 / 21
Website
cda.nl

The Christian Democratic Appeal (Dutch: Christen-Democratisch Appèl, pronounced [ˌkrɪstə(n)deːmoːˈkraːtis ɑˈpɛl]; CDA) is a Christian democratic[3] and conservative[4] political party in the Netherlands.

Formed as a federation in 1975 by the Catholic People's Party, the Anti-Revolutionary Party, and the Christian Historical Union, it first participated in a general election in 1977 and unified into a single party in 1980. The party dominated Dutch politics from 1977 to 1994, becoming the largest party all but twice, with leaders Dries van Agt and Ruud Lubbers serving as prime minister.

The party faced a major defeat in the 1994 general election, after which the first two cabinets without its participation were formed. The CDA regained its status as the largest party between 2002 and 2010, during which leader Jan Peter Balkenende headed four cabinets. Between 2010 and 2023, the party saw further electoral decline under varied leadership, participating in three of four cabinets as a junior coalition partner. Following the 2023 general election, the party holds five seats in opposition, now led by Henri Bontenbal.

  1. ^ "Ledentallen Nederlandse politieke partijen per 1 januari 2024" [Membership of Dutch political parties as of 1 January 2024]. University of Groningen (in Dutch). Documentation Centre Dutch Political Parties. 28 February 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Politieke fracties". Benelux Parliament (in Dutch). Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  3. ^ Multiple sources:
    • Kees Van Kerbergen; André Krouwel (2013). "A double-edged sword! The Dutch centre-right and the 'foreigners issue'". In Tim Bale (ed.). Immigration and Integration Policy in Europe: Why Politics – and the Centre-Right – Matter. Routledge. pp. 91–92. ISBN 978-1-317-96827-6.
    • Wijbrandt H. Van Schuur; Gerrit Voerman (2010). "Democracy in Retreat? Decline in political party membership: the case of the Netherlands". In Barbara Wejnert (ed.). Democratic Paths and Trends. Emerald Group Publishing. p. 28. ISBN 978-0-85724-091-0.
    • 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.
    • Nordsieck, Wolfram (2021). "Netherlands". Parties and Elections in Europe. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  4. ^ Multiple sources: