What is Christian Democratic Union of Germany?
{{Infobox political party |country = Germany |name = Christian Democratic Union of Germany |native_name = Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands |abbreviation = CDU |logo = [[File:CDU logo.svg|center|150px|CDU logo]] |colorcode = {{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}} |leader = [[Friedrich Merz]] |foundation = 1870 (Centre Party)<br>1945 (CDU) |ideology = [[Christian democracy]], [[Conservatism]] |position = [[Centre-right]] |international = [[Christian Democrat International]] and [[International Democrat Union]] |european = [[European People's Party]] |europarl = [[European People's Party - European Democrats]] |colours = Black, Orange |headquarters = Klingelhöferstraße 8<br />10785 [[Berlin]] |website = [http://www.cdu.de http://www.cdu.de] }} [[File:CDU Zentrale Berlin.JPG|thumb|right|Party headquarters, <BR/>the ''CDU haus'' in Berlin]] The '''Christian Democratic Union of Germany''' or ''Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands (CDU)'' is one of the two main right of centre political parties in [[Germany]]. It describes itself as a Christian democratic and conservative party. In November 2005 the Federal leader of the CDU [[Angela Merkel]] became the [[Chancellor]] of the Federal Republic of Germany; she left office in December 2021. It is currently led by General Secretary Carsten Linnemann, who was given his position in July 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bauer|first=Bence|date=2023-07-16|title=Change of Leadership in the CDU — German Conservatives at a Crossroads|url=https://www.hungarianconservative.com/articles/politics/cdu_change_of_leadership_german-conservatives_crossroads_maassen/}}</ref> The party's president is Friedrich Merz. == History == The CDU was founded after [[World War II]]. The first German Chancellor was [[Konrad Adenauer]], a member of the CDU. He ruled from 1949 to 1963. During the Government of [[Helmut Kohl]] (1982-1998), Germany was [[German reunification|reunited]]. The CDU was the Government Party for most of the younger German history, only from 1969 to 1