Christian Social Union of Bavaria

Christian Social Union of Bavaria
Christlich-Soziale Union in Bayern
LeaderMarkus Söder (Minister President of Bavaria)
Founded1945
HeadquartersFranz Josef Strauß-Haus
Nymphenburger Str. 64
80335 München
IdeologyChristian democracy
Conservatism
Political positionCentre-right to right-wing
European affiliationEuropean People's Party
International affiliationChristian Democrat International and International Democrat Union
European Parliament groupEuropean People's Party - European Democrats
ColoursBlue (campaign colour)
Website
http://www.csu.de

The Christian Social Union of Bavaria or Christlich Soziale Union (short CSU) is a conservative political party in the German state of Bavaria.

In the federal parliament of Germany (Bundestag) the CSU and the CDU join together in a political alliance to form the main centre-right group in Germany.

Its chief is Horst Seehofer.

History

In 1945, two local CSU groups were founded. One in Würzburg and the other in Munich.

In January 1946 the CSU was founded for the whole of Bavaria.

All state elections of Bavaria were won by the CSU. Sometimes the CSU had to make some coalitions with the Bayernpartei (Bavarian Party), the FDP or the SPD.

In the federal government the CSU always joins with the CDU.

The CSU is more conservative than the CDU.

One very famous leader of the CSU was Franz Josef Strauß. Sometimes he was well known for the good that he did. Other times because of scandals.

Programme

The CSU is a very conservative party according to the people of Bavaria, who mainly live in the countryside and smaller towns and villages.

Traditionally it tried to make a compromise between conservative tradition and social welfare.

Currently it leans to more free market beliefs instead of social care.

References

  1. ↑ Sources:
    • Regionalist Parties in Western Europe: Dimensions of Success. Taylor & Francis. 2017. p. 42. ISBN 978-1-317-06895-2.
    • Boswell, Christina; Hough, Dan (2009). "Politicizing migration : opportunity or liability for the centre-right in Germany?". Immigration and integration policy in Europe : why politics -- and the centre-right -- matter. By Bale, Tim. Journal of European Public Policy Series. London: Routledge. pp. 18, 21. ISBN 9780415468343. OCLC 461254258.
    • Detterbeck, Klaus (2012). Multi-Level Party Politics in Western Europe. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 105.
    • Hornsteiner, Margaret; Saalfeld, Thomas (2014). "Parties and the Party System". Developments in German Politics. By Padgett, Stephen; Paterson, William E.; Zohlnhöfer, Reimut. Vol. 4. Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan. p. 80. ISBN 9781137301635. OCLC 885477730.
  2. ↑ Rothe, Peter; Krell, Michael (2026-04-30). "„Bayern ist die Vorstufe zum Paradies". Affektives Place-Making als populistische Mobilisierungsstrategie in den Aschermittwochsreden der CSU-Parteivorsitzenden". Raumforschung und Raumordnung | Spatial Research and Planning (in German). 84 (2): 119–133. doi:10.14512/rur.3568. ISSN 1869-4179.
  3. ↑ "The Free State of Bavaria and its party: the CSU faces an electoral test". OSW Centre for Eastern Studies. 2018-10-10. Retrieved 2026-09-30.