Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams

Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams
Leader	Wouter Beke
Founded	1869 (Catholic Party) 1945 (CVP) 2001 (CD&V)
Headquarters	Wetstraat 89 1040 Brussels
Ideology	Christian democracy Centrism
Political position	Centre to Centre-right
International affiliation	Centrist Democrat International
European affiliation	European People's Party
European Parliament group	European People's Party
Colours	Orange
Chamber of Representatives	17 / 150
Senate	7 / 71
Flemish Parliament	31 / 124
Brussels Parliament	3 / 89
European Parliament	3 / 22
Website
www.cdenv.be

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Politics portal

Christian Democratic and Flemish (Dutch:  Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams , CD&V) is a Christian democratic and centrist political party of Flanders, Belgium. It is a party with historic ties to both labour unionism (ACV) and corporative organization as UNIZO and the Farmer's League. Until 2001, it was called Christian People's Party (Christelijke Volkspartij, CVP).

CD&V is currently the largest party in the Flemish Parliament and is leading the Flemish Government which is led by minister-president Kris Peeters. CD&V is also the most important Flemish party in the federal Di Rupo I Government.

The party is well known in Europe because of Herman Van Rompuy, the current president of the European Council, and Wilfried Martens, president of the European People's Party.

History

The history of the CD&V dates back to the 19th century. It originated in the 19th century catholic party, or 'parti conservateur' (conservative party). At the end of the century, the new fraction of the so-called Christian-democrats shifted the focus of the party slightly to the left. In the interwar years the party was renamed Catholic Block. Then, the Christian Social Party (PSC-CVP) existed from 1945 until 1968. In 1968, the PSC-CVP was split into to the (French-speaking) PSC (now Humanist Democratic Centre) and (Flemish) CVP. In 2001 the CVP became the CD&V.

The party was almost continually in power from its establishment until 1999, with the exception of 1954-1958. In 1999, the liberal VLD became the largest party in Belgium, and formed a majority of liberals, socialists and ecologists. The same happened in the Flemish Government, but with the addition of Flemish nationalists. In 2003 CD&V again lost the federal elections which continuated the federal center-left coalition, but this time without the Greens.

In 2004, Flemish elections were held and the CD&V once more became the largest political party in the Flemish Parliament. Yves Leterme became Flemish minister-president. After successful local elections in 2006, the party became the largest party in the Belgian Chambre of Representatives after the federal elections of 2007. The CD&V led the subsequent coalition talks, which repeatedly stalled (see 2007–2008 Belgian government formation). On the 20 March 2008, a new federal government was finally assembled, led by Yves Leterme. Kris Peeters subsequently became the next minister-president of Flanders. From 30 December 2008 till 25 November 2009, Herman Van Rompuy led his first cabinet before becoming the first permanent president of the European Council. Afterwards, Yves Leterme led his second government.

In June 2009, Flemish elections were held and the CD&V remained the largest party of Flanders. Kris Peeters stayed as Flemish minister-president. The party also remained the most important Flemish party in the European Parliament.

In 2010, the Open Vld decided to step out of the federal coalition and consequently ending the government. The federal elections of 2010 resulted in a major loss of historic proportions for CD&V, largely due to votes lost to the Flemish-nationalist New-Flemish Alliance. In the campaign, former prime minister Yves Leterme took a subtle step aside as frontrunner of the party. The president of the party, Marianne Thyssen, had pre-electorally stated that she was a candidate to become Prime Minister.

On 6 December 2011, the Di Rupo I Government was formed, with the CD&V as the largest Flemish party.

During the local elections in 2012, CD&V managed to remain the most important Flemish party on the local level. It remained in the coalition of all five Flemish provinces and in three quarters of the municipalities. Almost half of these municipalities were subsequently led by CD&V mayors.

Electoral results (1971-2010)

Federal Parliament

The main six Flemish political parties and their results for the Chamber of Representatives. From 1978 to 2010, in percentages for the complete 'Kingdom'.

Results for the Chamber of Representatives, in percentages for the Kingdom of Belgium. From 1971 tot 1999: CVP figures. 2003: CD&V figures. 2007: CD&V/N-VA figures. From 2010 onwards: CD&V figures.

Chamber of Representatives

Election year	# of overall votes	% of overall vote	% of language group vote	# of overall seats won	# of language group seats won	+/-	Government	Notes
1995	1,042,933	17.2		29 / 150			in coalition
1999	875,967	14.1		22 / 150		7	in opposition
2003	870,749	13.3		21 / 150	21 / 88	1	in opposition
2007	1,234,950	18.5 (#1)		25 / 150	25 / 88	4	in coalition	In cartel with N-VA; 30 seats won by CD&V/N-VA
2010	707,986	10.9 (#2)		17 / 150	17 / 88	8	in coalition

Senate

Election year	# of overall votes	% of overall vote	% of language group vote	# of overall seats won	# of language group seats won	+/-	Notes
1995	1,009,656	16.8	26.9 (#1)	7 / 40	7 / 25
1999	913,508	14.7	23.6 (#2)	6 / 40	6 / 25	1
2003	832,849	12.7	20.4 (#3)	6 / 40	6 / 25	0
2007	1,287,389	19.4	31.4 (#1)	8 / 40	8 / 25	2	In cartel with N-VA; 9 seats won by CD&V/N-VA
2010	646,375	10.0	16.2 (#2)	4 / 40	4 / 25	4	Last direct election

Regional parliaments

Brussels Parliament

Election year	# of overall votes	% of overall vote	% of language group vote	# of overall seats won	# of language group seats won	+/-
1989	18,523	4.2 (#6)		4 / 75
1995	13,586	3.3 (#6)		3 / 75		1
1999	14,284	3.4	23.6 (#2)	3 / 75		0
2004	10,482	2.3	16.8 (#4)	3 / 89	3 / 17	0
	In cartel with N-VA; 3 seats won by CD&V/N-VA
2009	7,696	1.7	14.9 (#4)	3 / 89	3 / 17	0

Flemish Parliament

Election year	# of overall votes	% of overall vote	% of language group vote	# of overall seats won	# of language group seats won	+/–	Government
1995	1,010,505	26.8 (#1)		37 / 124			in coalition
1999	857,732	22.1 (#1)		30 / 124		7	in opposition
2004	1,060,580	26.1 (#1)		29 / 124		1	in coalition
	In cartel with N-VA; 35 seats won by CD&V/N-VA
2009	939,873	22.9 (#1)		31 / 124		2	in coalition

European Parliament

Election year	# of overall votes	% of overall vote	% of electoral college vote	# of overall seats won	# of electoral college won	+/-	Notes
1979	1,607,941		48.1 (#1)	7 / 24	7 / 13
1984	1,132,682		32.5 (#1)	4 / 24	4 / 13	3
1989	1,247,075		34.1 (#1)	5 / 24	5 / 13	1
1994	1,013,266		27.4 (#1)	4 / 25	4 / 14	1
1999	839,720		21.7 (#2)	3 / 25	3 / 14	1
2004	1,131,119		28.2 (#1)	3 / 24	3 / 14	0	In cartel with N-VA; 4 seats won by CD&V/N-VA
2009	948,123		23.3 (#1)	3 / 22	3 / 13	0

Presidents

CVP/PSC

• 1945-1947 Gilbert Mullie
• 1947-1949 Paul Willem Segers
• 1949-1959 Jef De Schuyffeleer
• 1959-1961 Fred Bertrand
• 1961-1963 Jozef De Saeger
• 1963-1968 Robert Vandekerckhove

CVP

• 1968-1972 Robert Vandekerckhove
• 1972-1979 Wilfried Martens
• 1979-1982 Leo Tindemans
• 1982-1988 Frank Swaelen
• 1988-1993 Herman Van Rompuy
• 1993-1996 Johan Van Hecke
• 1996-1999 Marc Van Peel
• 1999-2001 Stefaan De Clerck

CD&V

• 2001-2003 Stefaan De Clerck
• 2003-2004 Yves Leterme
• 2004-2007 Jo Vandeurzen
• 2007-2008 Etienne Schouppe
• 2008-2008 Wouter Beke
• 2008-2010 Marianne Thyssen
• 2010–present Wouter Beke

Until 1968 this lists gives the president of the Flemish part of the unitary CVP/PSC. The party changed its name from CVP to CD&V on 29 September 2001.

See also

• Christene Volkspartij
• Graves de Communi Re

References

• Th. Luykx and M. Platel, Politieke geschiedenis van België, 2 vol., Kluwer, 1985
• W. Dewachter, Tussen staat en maatschappij, 1945-1995, christendemocratie in België, Tielt, 1995.
• E. Witte, J. Craeybeckx en A. Meynen, Politieke geschiedenis van België, Standaard, 1997

External links

• Official website
• CD&V page on the website of the European People's Party