Christian Democratic Union of Germany

The Christian Democratic Union of Germany (German: Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands [ˈkʁɪstlɪç demoˈkʁaːtɪʃə ʔuˈni̯oːn ˈdɔʏtʃlants], CDU [ˌtseːdeːˈʔuː] ^ⓘ) is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany, active in only 15 of 16 states, as its "sister party" Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU) represents the largest German state. They have developed in parallel in the 1940s, act on federal level as "the Union" CDU/CSU, but have never merged.

CDU is the major party of the centre-right in German politics. Friedrich Merz has been federal chairman of the CDU since 31 January 2022, and has served as the Chancellor of Germany since 6 May 2025.

The CDU/CSU is the largest faction in the 21st Bundestag, the current German federal legislature, with 208 (164 CDU + 44 CSU) out of 630 seats, having won a combined 28.5% (22.6% CDU and 6.0% CSU) of votes in the 2025 federal election. The group's parliamentary leader has been Jens Spahn since 5 May 2025.

Founded in 1945 as an interdenominational Christian party, the CDU effectively succeeded the traditional Catholic Centre Party that was active from 1870 until 1933. When political parties were allowed in Allied-occupied Germany, many former Centre members joined the all-Christian CDU, including its first leader Konrad Adenauer. The party also included politicians of other backgrounds, including liberals and conservatives. As a result, the party claims to represent "Christian-social, liberal and conservative" elements. The CDU is generally pro-European in outlook.

Black, associated with Christian clerical robes like cassock/soutane, is the party's customary and historical electoral colour, used in many polls and other publications. According to the CDU corporate design scheme of 2023, their logo is now Union black, and not red anymore, "because we are the Blacks". The logo is on a white frame and always connected with the Flag of Germany black-red-gold upswing. Two of the others preferred CDU colors are named after places where Konrad Adenauer had lived, Cadenabbia-Turquoise, dark Rhöndorf-Blue, plus White and Union-Gold.

The CDU leads the federal government in a grand coalition with the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), after returning as the largest party in the 2025 federal election. It previously led the federal government from 1949 to 1969, 1982 to 1998, and 2005 to 2021. Germany's three longest-serving post-war Chancellors have all come from the CDU, specifically: Helmut Kohl (1982–1998), Angela Merkel (2005–2021), and Konrad Adenauer (1949–1963). The party also currently leads the governments of seven of Germany's sixteen states.

The CDU is a member of the Centrist Democrat International, the International Democracy Union, and the European People's Party (EPP). It is the largest party in the EPP with 23 MEPs. Ursula von der Leyen, the current President of the European Commission, is also a member of the CDU.