ChristianUnion - Ideology and Issues

Ideology and Issues

The CU calls itself a Christian social party. The party has its roots in orthodox Protestant parties, often referred to as the "small right". It combines a conservative point of view on ethical and foreign policy issues, with more centre left ideas on economic, asylum, social and environmental issues. Its conservative reformed ideals are reflected in its program of principles: It believes that the state is the swordmaiden of God. It bases its politics directly on the Bible. However, it sees separate duties for the state and the church in public life: the church should spread the Word of God, while the state should merely uphold public morality. The state should respect the religion of its citizens. Other Christian principles, like neighbourly love and stewardship for the Earth, however have given the CU's political program a centre-left orientation.

Some of CU's conservative policies include:

• Facilitation by government of a one-earner model, allowing one parent, usually the wife, to stay at home and take care of the children.
• Society should cherish its collective moments of rest, and leave Sunday a day of rest.
• Abortion and euthanasia-practices should be reduced and eventually replaced by adoption and palliative care.
• The Dutch policy of toleration of soft drugs should be abandoned.
• Combatting pornography and prostitution.
• Allowing civil servants to refuse to perform gay marriage.
• Defending the freedom of education (that is, to found religious schools), because of sphere sovereignty.
• The Netherlands should remain an independent political entity within the European Union.
• Limiting the use of genetic manipulation.

More Center-left policies include:

• Public services of education, health care and social security should remain state run, but on a smaller scale than is presently the case.
• Increased budgets for development cooperation in order to address the poverty in the global south.
• A more open policy towards asylum seekers, especially those who are persecuted for religious reasons.
• A relatively green environmental policy. Based on its electoral promises on investment in green energy the Dutch branch of Greenpeace termed ChristenUnion the greenest political party.