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Christian Democratic and Flemish

Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams (CD&V) (Christian Democratic and Flemish) is a Flemish Community of Belgium political party, formerly called Christian People's Party (Christelijke Volkspartij, CVP). It is a nationalist centrist Flemish party committed to Christian democracy, with historic ties to both labour unionism (ACV) and corporative organization as Unizo and the Farmer's League.

As of the 2007 elections, it forms the largest political formation in Belgium. Currently CD&V is a member of the Leterme I Government, with CD&V leader Yves Leterme the current Prime Minister of Belgium.

History

The history of the CD&V dates back to the PSC-CVP, which existed from 1944 until 1968, and was itself the successor of the Catholic Block. In 1968, the PSC-CVP was split into to PSC (now Humanist Democratic Centre) and CVP and in 1999 the CVP would become the CD&V.

The party was almost continually in power from its establishment until 1999. From 2003 it has been led by Yves Leterme, and before that was led by Stefaan De Clerck. Now it is led by Jo Vandeurzen. Despite its optimistic predictions, it came third in the 2003 elections, coming behind the Flemish Liberals and Democrats (VLD) and the SP.A-Spirit cartel. Much of its predominantly rural support was taken by the nationalist Vlaams Blok.

CD&V led the opposition to VLD prime minister Guy Verhofstadt who had formed a center-left coalition between liberals, socialists and greens in 1999 on the federal and Flemish government level. In 2003 CD&V again lost the federal elections which continuated the federal center-left coalition, but this time without the Greens. On 13 June 2004 Flemish elections were held alongside European elections. CD&V led by Yves Leterme won these elections, partly by forming a cartel with the moderate nationalist N-VA, and retook its historic position as largest party in Flanders. On the 20th of July 2004 Yves Leterme presented the new Flemish government and was sworn into office as the new Minister-President of Flanders. He negotiated a coalition of VLD, SP.A-Spirit and CD&V/N-VA.

2007 elections

Although unwilling to state clearly his position as aspiring prime minister of Belgium, Leterme led the Senate list for the CD&V/N-VA electoral pact in the 2007 elections. In the 10 June 2007 general elections, the cartel won 30 out of 150 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 9 out of 40 seats in the Senate. Having become the largest political formation as a result of these elections, the CD&V looked to lead 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.

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-present Marianne Thyssen

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.

References

Th. Luykx and M. Platel, Politieke geschiedenis van België, 2 vol., Kluwer, 1985
E. Witte, J. Craeybeckx en A. Meynen, Politieke geschiedenis van België, Standaard, 1997