Junge Union
Encyclopedia
The Junge Union Deutschlands ("Young Union" of Germany) or JU is the joint
youth organisation of the two conservative German
political parties
CDU and CSU. Membership is limited to individuals between 14 and 35 years of age.
's political goals among the youth. The JU also aims at representing the interests of the youth within the CDU/CSU
parties. In its platform, it defines itself as a catch-all liberal
, progressive
, but conservative
-leaning organization. The JU advocates democracy
and Social market economy
. It supports the European integration
and a strong partnership with the United States
within the framework of the NATO. The Junge Union backs the modernization of the political agenda within its mother parties. One central objective is a consequent reform of the public social security system which is confronted by an increasing dependency ratio
.
The JU upholds intergenerational equity
in the areas of pension and health care system reforms, which shall aim at complementing them with capital-based private accounts in order to address fiscal problems such as Germany's debt-to-GDP ratio. Through labor-market liberalization, the JU aims at addressing unemployment. The JU supports university tuition fees, and the Center Against Expulsions in Berlin
.
In foreign policy, the JU upholds the German-American security alliance, and has called for Germany to take part in the War against Iraq. Rejecting Turkey's full membership, however, the JU prefers Turkey having a privileged partnership
with the EU.
. It works closely together with all European partner organisations but has traditionally strong ties to the neighbouring Junge Österreichische Volkspartei (JVP), youth organisation of the Austrian People's Party
.
youth organisation of the two conservative German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
political parties
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
CDU and CSU. Membership is limited to individuals between 14 and 35 years of age.
Philosophy
In its manifesto the JU defines itself as an organization that aims at increasing awareness about the CDU/CSUCDU/CSU
CDU/CSU, unofficially also referred to as the Union parties or the Union, is the name of the Bundestag parliamentary faction comprising the Christian Democratic Union of Germany and the Christian Social Union of Bavaria , considered to be sister parties...
's political goals among the youth. The JU also aims at representing the interests of the youth within the CDU/CSU
CDU/CSU
CDU/CSU, unofficially also referred to as the Union parties or the Union, is the name of the Bundestag parliamentary faction comprising the Christian Democratic Union of Germany and the Christian Social Union of Bavaria , considered to be sister parties...
parties. In its platform, it defines itself as a catch-all liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
, progressive
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
, but conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
-leaning organization. The JU advocates democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
and Social market economy
Social market economy
The social market economy is the main economic model used in West Germany after World War II. It is based on the economic philosophy of Ordoliberalism from the Freiburg School...
. It supports the European integration
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
and a strong partnership with the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
within the framework of the NATO. The Junge Union backs the modernization of the political agenda within its mother parties. One central objective is a consequent reform of the public social security system which is confronted by an increasing dependency ratio
Dependency ratio
In economics and geography the dependency ratio is an age-population ratio of those typically not in the labor force and those typically in the labor force...
.
The JU upholds intergenerational equity
Intergenerational equity
Intergenerational equity in economic, psychological, and sociological contexts, is the concept or idea of fairness or justice in relationships between children, youth, adults and seniors, particularly in terms of treatment and interactions. It has been studied in environmental and sociological...
in the areas of pension and health care system reforms, which shall aim at complementing them with capital-based private accounts in order to address fiscal problems such as Germany's debt-to-GDP ratio. Through labor-market liberalization, the JU aims at addressing unemployment. The JU supports university tuition fees, and the Center Against Expulsions in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
.
In foreign policy, the JU upholds the German-American security alliance, and has called for Germany to take part in the War against Iraq. Rejecting Turkey's full membership, however, the JU prefers Turkey having a privileged partnership
Privileged partnership
Privileged partnership is the term coined by the German conservative party CDU for their model of the future relation between Turkey and the European Union, which falls short of full membership...
with the EU.
Well-known former members of the Junge Union
- Helmut KohlHelmut KohlHelmut Josef Michael Kohl is a German conservative politician and statesman. He was Chancellor of Germany from 1982 to 1998 and the chairman of the Christian Democratic Union from 1973 to 1998...
- Edmund StoiberEdmund StoiberEdmund Rüdiger Stoiber is a German politician, former minister-president of the state of Bavaria and former chairman of the Christian Social Union...
- Roland KochRoland KochRoland Koch is a German jurist and former conservative politician. He was Minister-President of Hesse from April 7, 1999, immediately becoming President of the Bundesrat, completing the term begun by his predecessor as Minister President, Hans Eichel, until his resignation on August 31, 2010...
- Christian WulffChristian WulffChristian Wilhelm Walter Wulff is the President of Germany and a politician of the Christian Democratic Union. He was elected President on 2010 and publicly swore the oath of office on . A lawyer by profession, he served as Premier of the state of Lower Saxony from 2003 to 2010.-Early life and...
- Günther OettingerGünther OettingerGünther Hermann Oettinger is a German politician of the Christian Democratic Union . He became European Commissioner for Energy in the European Commission on 10 February 2010 and is affiliated with the European People's Party...
- Stefan MappusStefan MappusStefan Mappus is a former German politician from the Christian Democratic Union . He was Minister-President of the state of Baden-Württemberg since 2010 and chairman of the CDU Baden-Württemberg since 2009....
- Volker KauderVolker KauderVolker Kauder is a German CDU politician. Since 21 November 2005 he has been Chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag after a short term as Secretary General of the CDU. He has been a member of parliament since 1990.-External links:...
- Alexander, Hereditary Prince of Hohenzollern
- Karl-Theodor zu GuttenbergKarl-Theodor zu GuttenbergKarl-Theodor Freiherr zu Guttenberg is a German politician of the Christian Social Union ....
- Wolfgang SchäubleWolfgang SchäubleWolfgang Schäuble is a German politician of the Christian Democratic Union , currently serving as the Federal Minister of Finance in the Second Cabinet Merkel....
- Peter MüllerPeter Müller (German politician)Peter Aloysius Müller is a German politician belonging to the Christian Democratic Union . From 1999 to 2011, he has held the position of Premier of the state of Saarland, serving as President of the Upper House of Germany's federal parliament, the Bundesrat from 1 November 2008 to 1 November...
Chairpersons
- Bruno Six (1947-1948)
- Alfred Sagner (1948-1949)
- Josef Hermann Dufhues (1949-1950)
- Ernst Majonica (1950-1955)
- Gerhard StoltenbergGerhard StoltenbergGerhard Stoltenberg was a German politician and minister in the cabinets of Ludwig Erhard, Kurt Georg Kiesinger and Helmut Kohl. He served as minister-president of the German state of Schleswig-Holstein from 1971 to 1982 and as such as President of the Bundesrat in 1977/78.-Life:Stoltenberg was...
(1955-1961) - Bert Even (1961-1963)
- Egon KlepschEgon KlepschEgon Alfred Klepsch was a German politician .In the years 1963–1969 Dr. Klepsch was Federal leader of the Junge Union. In 1965 he worked briefly as an election campaign manager for Ludwig Erhard. In the same year he was elected to the German Bundestag, to which he belonged until 1980.Since...
(1963-1969) - Jürgen EchternachJürgen EchternachJürgen Echternach was a German politician, representative of the German Christian Democratic Union....
(1969-1973) - Matthias WissmannMatthias WissmannMatthias Wissmann is the president of the Verband der Automobilindustrie.Since 1999 he has been a partner with the law firm WilmerHale.-Education:...
(1973-1983) - Christoph Böhr (1983-1989)
- Hermann Gröhe (1989-1994)
- Klaus Escher (1994-1998)
- Hildegard Müller (1998-2002)
- Philipp MißfelderPhilipp MißfelderPhilipp Mißfelder is a German politician. He is chairman of the Junge Union, the youth organization of the CDU, and a member of the Bundestag, where he acts as Foreign Policy Spokesman for the Fraction of the Christian Democrats...
(2002- )
International relations
The JU is member of the Youth of the European People's Party (YEPP), an umbrella organisation of Christian Democratic and conservative youth organisations of EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. It works closely together with all European partner organisations but has traditionally strong ties to the neighbouring Junge Österreichische Volkspartei (JVP), youth organisation of the Austrian People's Party
Austrian People's Party
The Austrian People's Party is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Austria. A successor to the Christian Social Party of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it is similar to the Christian Democratic Union of Germany in terms of ideology...
.
External links
- Junge Union - Official site (German)
- Philipp Mißfelder - Official site of the current JU chairman (German)
- Youth of the European People's Party - Official site (English)