Christian Democratic Movement

The Christian Democratic Movement (Slovak: Kresťanskodemokratické hnutie, KDH) is a christian democratic[3] political party in Slovakia that is a member of the European People's Party (EPP) and an observer of the Centrist Democrat International.

"KDH" redirects here. For the airport with IATA code KDH, see Kandahar International Airport. For the band, see Kill Devil Hill (band).

Christian Democratic Movement
Kresťanskodemokratické hnutie
AbbreviationKDH
ChairmanMilan Majerský
Vice-chairmansTomáš Merašický
Marián Čaučík
Igor Janckulík
FounderJán Čarnogurský
Founded17 February 1990 (1990-02-17)
HeadquartersŠafárikovo námestie 77/4, Bratislava
Youth wingChristian Democratic Youth of Slovakia
Membership (2020)7,158 ( 890)[1]
IdeologyChristian democracy[2][3]
Social conservatism[4]
Pro-Europeanism[5]
Political positionCentre-right[6][7]
European affiliationEuropean People's Party
International affiliationCentrist Democrat International (Observer)
European Parliament groupEuropean People's Party
Colours    Blue and red
  Light yellow (customary)
National Council
0 / 150
European Parliament
2 / 14
Self-governing regions
1 / 8
Regional parliaments
57 / 408
Local councils
2,350 / 20,646
Party flag
Website
kdh.sk

History

The party was established in 1990. In the 1990s it was led by Ján Čarnogurský and then since 2000 by Pavol Hrušovský. Before the 2016 elections, it was led by Ján Figeľ. Following the defeat in the elections, Figeľ stepped down from the position and Pavol Zajac became temporary leader until the decisive party meeting on 19 March 2016. Figeľ endorsed Milan Majerský, mayor of Levoča, for the position.

The KDH was a member of the government coalition, but it left that coalition on 7 February 2006 due to disputes over an international treaty between Slovakia and the Holy See dealing with the Conscientious objection on religious grounds.

In the parliamentary election of 17 June 2006, the party won 8.3% of the popular vote and 14 out of 150 seats.

Four prominent parliamentary members (František Mikloško, Vladimír Palko, Rudolf Bauer and Pavol Minárik) left the party on 21 February 2008 due to their dissatisfaction with the party, its leadership and its policies, and founded the Conservative Democrats of Slovakia in July.

In the 2012 parliamentary election, KDH received 8.82% of the vote, placing it the second-largest party in the National Council with 16 deputies, leaving it the largest opposition party to the ruling Direction – Social Democracy.

In the 2014 European elections, KDH came second place nationally, receiving 13.21% of the vote and electing 2 MEPs.[8]

In the 2016 parliamentary election, the party only won 4.94% of the vote, losing all of its seats. This was the first time since its inception that the party did not reach the parliament. Following the electoral defeat, KDH elected Alojz Hlina its new leader.[9]

Party leaders
Image Name Entered office Left office
1 Ján Čarnogurský 1990 2000
2 Pavol Hrušovský 2000 2009
3 Ján Figeľ 2009 2016
4 Alojz Hlina 2016 2020
5 Milan Majerský 2020 present
  • Pavol Zajac was acting president of party in 2016 and 2020 (after the lost election)

Election results

National Council
Election Leader Votes  % Seats +/– Government
1990 Ján Čarnogurský 648,782 19.21 (#2)
31 / 150
 Coalition
1992 273,945 8.89 (#3)
18 / 150
 13 Opposition (1992–1994)
Coalition (1994)
1994 289,987 10.08 (#4)
17 / 150
 1 Opposition
1998[lower-alpha 1] Mikuláš Dzurinda[lower-alpha 2] 884,497 26.33 (#2)[lower-alpha 3]
15 / 150
 2 Coalition
2002 Pavol Hrušovský 237,202 8.25 (#5)
15 / 150
 0 Coalition
2006 191,443 8.31 (#6)
14 / 150
 1 Opposition
2010 Ján Figeľ 215,755 8.52 (#4)
15 / 150
 1 Coalition
2012 225,361 8.82 (#2)
16 / 150
 1 Opposition
2016 128,908 4.94 (#9)
0 / 150
 16 Extra-parliamentary
2020 Alojz Hlina 134,099 4.65 (#8)
0 / 150
 0 Extra-parliamentary

European Parliament
Election Group Leader Votes  % Seats +/–
2004 EPP Anna Záborská 113,655 16.89 (#4)
3 / 14
2009 Martin Fronc 89,905 10.87 (#4)
2 / 13
 1
2014 Anna Záborská 74,108 13.21 (#2)
2 / 13
 0
2019 Ivan Štefanec 95,588 9.69 (#4)
2 / 14
 0

Presidential
Election Candidate First round Second round Result
Votes  % Votes  %
1993 Anton Neuwirth 27[lower-alpha 4] 18.88 Lost
1998 Štefan Markuš 34[lower-alpha 5] 48.57 37[lower-alpha 6] 60.66 No winner
1999 Endorsed Rudolf Schuster 1,396,950 47.38 1,727,48 57.18 Won
2004 František Mikloško 129,414 6.52 Lost
2009 Endorsed Iveta Radičová 713,735 38.05 988,808 44.47 Lost
2014 Pavol Hrušovský 63,298 3.33 Lost
2019 Endorsed František Mikloško 122,916 5.73 Lost

See also

Notes
  1. As Slovak Democratic Coalition
  2. SDK leader, party chairman Ján Čarnogurský
  3. Slovak Democratic Coalition won 42 seats (of this - 15 members from KDH, 9 from Democratic union, 6 from Democratic party, 3 from Green party, 3 from social democrats a 6 were independents
  4. President was elected by 150 members of National Council
  5. President was elected by 150 members of National Council
  6. President was elected by 150 members of National Council

References
  1. https://www.minv.sk/swift_data/source/statna_komisia_pre_volby/30_annual_report/ar2020/VS_00586846_I_2020_20210727.pdf
  2. Bakke, Elisabeth (2010), "Central and East European party systems since 1989", Central and Southeast European Politics Since 1989, Cambridge University Press, p. 80
  3. José Magone (2010). Contemporary European Politics: A Comparative Introduction. Routledge. p. 456. ISBN 978-0-203-84639-1.
  4. Bodnárova, Bernardína (2006), "Social Policy", Slovakia 2005: A Global Report on the State of Society, Institute for Public Affairs, p. 307
  5. Lansford, Tom (2012). Thomas Muller; Judith Isacoff; Tom Lansford (eds.). Political Handbook of the World 2012. Los Angeles, California: CQ Press. p. 1284. ISBN 978-1-60871-995-2.
  6. Henderson, Karen (1999), "Minorities and Politics in the Slovak Republic", Minorities in Europe: Croatia, Estonia and Slovakia, Cambridge University Press, p. 150
  7. Bunce, Valerie; Wolchik, Sharon L. (2011), Defeating Authoritarian Leaders in Postcommunist Countries, Cambridge University Press, p. 64
  8. "Elections to the European Parliament 2014". 2 May 2014. Archived from the original on 28 May 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  9. "Novým predsedom KDH sa stal suverénne Alojz Hlina". TA3.com. Retrieved 14 June 2016.


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