Christian Social Union of Bavaria

Encyclopedia : C : CH : CHR : Christian Social Union of Bavaria

Christlich-Soziale Union in Bayern
Leader	Edmund Stoiber
Founded	1945
Headquarters	Franz Josef Strauß-Haus Nymphenburger Str. 64 80335 München
Political Ideology	Christian Democracy, Conservatism
International Affiliation	Christian Democrat and People's Parties International and International Democrat Union
European Affiliation	European People's Party and European Democrat Union
European Parliament Group	EPP-ED
Colours	Blue
Website	[http://www.csu.de]
See also	Politics of Germany Political parties Elections

The Christian Social Union of Bavaria (CSU – Christlich-Soziale Union in Bayern e.V.) is a Christian democratic political party in Germany. It operates exclusively in the state of Bavaria, while its sister party, the CDU, operates in the rest of the country. Only in 1957, in the state of Saarland (in the first election after it had rejoined Germany), did the CSU run against CDU candidates, but this section of the CSU later merged with the CDU. On the federal level, the CSU is often perceived as the more socially conservative of the two parties, although recently it has also been seen as more leftist on economic issues than the CDU. At times, especially when the CDU showed weaknesses, there has been considerable tension up to threats to break up the cooperation. Most of the time, however, they work together very closely.

The CSU has led the Bavarian state government practically since it came into existence, and without the need for a coalition government for most of the time. This level of dominance is unique in post-war Germany. On the federal level, it forms a common faction in the Bundestag (Federal Parliament) with the CDU. Edmund Stoiber took over the CSU chairmanship early in 1999. He ran for chancellor in 2002, but lost. In 2003 the CSU was re-elected as the Bavarian government with an overall majority. Franz Josef Strauß (1915-1988) is seen as having set the ideological basis of the party, although he was too young to be a founding leader of the party, which began as a continuation of the Weimar-era Bavarian People's Party and, to a lesser extent, by the Catholic Centre Party.

Chairmen of the Christian Social Union, 1946-present

• Josef Müller 1946-1949
• Hans Ehard 1949-1955
• Hanns Seidel 1955-1961
• Franz Josef Strauß 1961-1988
• Theodor Waigel 1988-1999
• Edmund Stoiber 1999-

See also

• Christian Democratic Union of Germany
• Politics of Germany
• Bundestag (Federal Assembly of Germany)