Statement by the IDU Chairman on the 75th anniversary of the CDU
On this day in 1945, the Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands was founded in Berlin.
Rising from the ashes of World War II, the CDU has gone on to be modern Germany’s most successful political party. In the 71 years of the Federal Republic, the CDU has been in government for 50, providing five outstanding chancellors – Konrad Adenauer, Ludwig Erhard, Kurt Georg Kiesinger, Helmut Kohl and Angela Merkel. It has led Germany’s postwar reconstruction, the reconciliation and integration of Europe, the country’s role in the NATO alliance, its victory in the Cold War and, of course, the reunification of Germany itself. In the past decade and a half under Chancellor Merkel, the CDU has continued to lead Germany through a range of challenges including, most recently, its successful management of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Throughout its history, the CDU has demonstrated how conservative ideas of freedom and democracy can re-invigorate a society, restore prosperity, security and peace for its people, and re-shape the international order.
The CDU, together with its Bavarian sister CSU, remains the most broadly-based party in Germany to this day. The IDU global network is proud to call the CDU Germany a friend and partner, which it has unfailingly been since our founding in 1983.
The late Chancellor Helmut Kohl was one of the IDU’s founding fathers. He stated: “I think it is a basic realization of democratic development in our generation that we not only get together on a country to country basis, but that we also have the same convictions, that we come together on these convictions, and that we advocate our personal and political freedoms – particularly human rights, which are the pre-condition for true peace and naturally for freedom.” Chancellor Kohl’s remarks have framed our mission for the past 37 years and will continue to do so.
The entire IDU family wishes the CDU and its members a very happy 75th anniversary and continued success for the 75 years to come.