Is Christian democracy finished?
BERLIN — Recent state elections in Germany have been portrayed as momentous, since the far right finished first in two and may well come to power in one. Yet future historians may focus on another, largely overlooked outcome: For the first time in the post-World War II period, Germany’s Christian Democrats (CDU) failed to pass the 5 percent electoral threshold. Worse, this disastrous result…
Recent German state elections have been deemed significant, with the far-right party emerging as the top contender in two, and potentially gaining power in a third. However, a more noteworthy outcome may capture the attention of future historians: for the first time since World War II, Germany's Christian Democrats (CDU) did not surpass the 5 percent electoral threshold.
This disappointing result transpired in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, a predominantly rural state where Angela Merkel, the former Chancellor, had served as the head of the CDU's state organization for nearly seven years. Can the CDU prevent the widespread decline that has afflicted other center-right parties in Western Europe recently?
Historical precedents provide some insights. Christian Democracy emerged in 19th-century Europe as a movement aimed at safeguarding Catholics from what was perceived as excessive secular state control. Drawing inspiration from Pope Leo XIII's Catholic social doctrine, which recognized the shortcomings of capitalism while condemning class warfare, these parties distinguished themselves through their reformist approach to tackling societal issues.
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