Reunified Germany's Political Landscape: A Quarter-Century Later
A Tale of Two Parties
When the Berlin Wall fell in 1990, Germany was reunited after being divided for nearly half a century. This historic event had a profound impact on the country's political landscape, which has been dominated by two major parties ever since: the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU). Together, these parties have held the chancellorship for all but four years since reunification.
The CDU and CSU: A Symbiotic Relationship
The CDU and CSU are sister parties with remarkably similar ideologies. Both are Christian democratic, conservative parties that advocate for free markets, limited government, and strong social welfare programs. The CDU operates in the former West Germany, while the CSU is active in Bavaria, the largest state in southern Germany. Despite their separate operations, the two parties form a single parliamentary bloc in the Bundestag, Germany's federal parliament.
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