Editing CU–SGP

{{Short description|Electoral alliance in the Netherlands}}
{{Infobox political party
 | country = the Netherlands
 | name = Christian Union – Reformed Political Party
 | abbreviation = CU–SGP
 | native_name = ChristenUnie–SGP
 | logo = ChristenUnie–SGP logo.png
 | colorcode = {{party color|Christian Union – Reformed Political Party}}
 | leader1_title   = 
 | leader1_name    =
 | merger = 
 | foundation = 
 | dissolution =
 | seats1_title     = [[Provincial council (Netherlands)|Provincial councils]]{{Efn|name=Provinces|North Brabant}}
 | seats1           = {{composition bar|1|548|hex={{party color|Christian Union – Reformed Political Party}}}}
 | seats2_title     = [[Municipal council (Netherlands)|Municipal Councils]]{{Efn|name=Councils|Not counting seats in municipalities where the parties ran on separate lists (Christian Union 305 seats, SGP 229 seats)}}
 | seats2           = {{composition bar|101|7991|hex={{party color|Christian Union – Reformed Political Party}}}}
 | membership_year = 
 | membership =
 | ideology = 
 | position = 
 | european = 
 | europarl =
 | colours = 
 | headquarters = 
}}
'''Christian Union–SGP''' ({{langx|nl|ChristenUnie – Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij}}) is a collaboration between the Dutch political parties [[Christian Union (Netherlands)|Christian Union]] (CU) and [[Reformed Political Party]] (SGP). In some municipal elections and Provincial Council elections, the parties submit a joint list. Before the merger of the [[Reformed Political Alliance]] (GPV) and the [[Reformatory Political Federation]] (RPF) into Christian Union in 2000, these parties also participated in various combinations, including '''SGP/RPF/GPV'''. From 1984 to 2019, the parties (or the predecessors of Christian Union) participated jointly in the [[European Parliament elections]].

==General==
{| class="wikitable sortable floatright" style="text-align:right"
|+ List combinations in municipal elections (1978-1998).<ref name="HippeVoerman" />
! scope="col" | Election
! scope="col" | SGP/GPV
! scope="col" | SGP/RPF
! scope="col" | GPV/RPF
! scope="col" | SGP/GPV/RPF
! scope="col" | Total
|-
! scope="row" | 1978
| 23
| 33
| 5
| 9
| 70
|-
! scope="row" | 1982
| 8
| 38
| 34
| 43
| 123
|-
! scope="row" | 1986
| 8
| 37
| 26
| 38
| 109
|-
! scope="row" | 1990
| 9
| 33
| 35
| 48
| 125
|-
! scope="row" | 1994
| 8-9
| 36-37
| 51-52
| 51-52
| 148
|-
! scope="row" | 1998
| 3
| 22
| 62-63
| 47-8
| 135
|}
The RPF, GPV, and SGP differed in their attitudes towards electoral cooperation. Since its founding in 1975, the RPF aimed for "cooperation with other [...] political groups that, like the RPF, advocate policies based on God's Word." The SGP was traditionally committed to independence but collaborated locally with ARP and CHU in the 1950s until they merged into the CDA. The GPV had long-standing principled objections to list combinations but became increasingly open to them from the 1980s. For the 1984 European Parliament elections, the GPV – after much internal controversy – agreed to a list combination for the first time.<ref name="HippeVoerman">{{Cite web|url=https://pure.rug.nl/ws/portalfiles/portal/15931185/2010_Gerrit_Voerman_Joop_Hippe_Reformatorisch_Staatkundig_Verbond_Van_de_Marge_naar_de_Macht.pdf|title=Reformatorisch Staatkundig Verbond? Over de samenwerking tussen SGP, GPV en RPF (1975-2000)|first=Hippe|last=Joop|last2=Voerman|first2=Gerrit|language=nl|access-date=3 January 2023|format=pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103165342/https://pure.rug.nl/ws/portalfiles/portal/15931185/2010_Gerrit_Voerman_Joop_Hippe_Reformatorisch_Staatkundig_Verbond_Van_de_Marge_naar_de_Macht.pdf|archive-date=3 January 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the following years, the GPV began to take a more flexible stance towards cooperation. In 1994, objections arose from the SGP after the RPF proposed a female candidate for the joint list for the European Parliament elections. Ultimately, the candidate withdrew, allowing for joint participation. The SGP board then declared that participation in a joint list with a woman remained unacceptable in principle. Only if a joint seat could yield an extra seat or a better position in the composition of the executive board were negotiations possible, but women were still not allowed in an electable position. The RPF and GPV responded by setting rules ensuring they would not be forced to exclude women from joint lists.<ref name="HippeVoerman" />

{| class="wikitable sortable floatright" style="text-align:right"
|+ Number of municipalities with cooperation between Christian Union and SGP during regular elections.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nd.nl/nieuws/politiek/1087018/waarom-de-christenunie-en-de-sgp-lokaal-minder-samenwerken#|title=Waarom de ChristenUnie en de SGP lokaal minder samenwerken dan bij vorige verkiezingen|work=[[Nederlands Dagblad]]|date=25 February 2022|access-date=3 January 2023|first=Eduard|last=Sloot|language=nl}}</ref>
|-
! scope="col" | Election
! scope="col" | Municipalities
! scope="col" | Percentage
|-
! scope="row" | [[2006 Dutch municipal elections|2006]]
| 41
| 9.8
|-
! scope="row" | [[2010 Dutch municipal elections|2010]]
| 38
| 9.7
|-
! scope="row" | [[2014 Dutch municipal elections|2014]]
| 38
| 10
|-
! scope="row" | [[2018 Dutch municipal elections|2018]]
| 39
| 11.6
|-
! scope="row" | [[2022 Dutch municipal elections|2022]]
| 34
| 10.2
|}

== European Parliament ==
In the first [[1979 European Parliament election in the Netherlands|European Parliament elections in 1979]], the SGP and GPV participated independently. Both parties did not win a seat. Starting in 1984, the parties, together with the RPF, formed a joint list, which did win a seat.

After the first two successful elections, [[Leen van der Waal]] was not part of a faction ([[Non-Inscrits]]). In 1994, Van der Waal joined the faction [[Europe of Nations]] and in 1996 its successor, [[Independents for a Europe of Nations]]. [[Hans Blokland (politician)|Hans Blokland]] and Van der Waal joined [[Europe of Democracies and Diversities]] (EDD) in 1999 when the previous faction reorganized.

In 2004, GPV and RPF merged to form the Christian Union. That year, EDD reorganized again into the [[Independence/Democracy]] (IND/DEM).

In 2009, the MEPs from the shared list split into two different factionsy. [[Peter van Dalen]] (CU) joined the [[European Conservatives and Reformists Group|European Conservatives and Reformists]] (ECR). The SGP, due to its stance on women, was not allowed in the ECR. [[Bas Belder]] therefore joined the successor of IND/DEM, [[Europe of Freedom and Democracy]] (EFD). In 2014, the SGP softened its stance on female candidacy, and the party was subsequently admitted into the ECR.

In 2019, however, there was another split when Christian Union left the ECR for the [[European People's Party Group]], because radical-right parties like [[Forum for Democracy]] (FvD) had joined the ECR. Due to growing disagreements, Christian Union decided in 2022 not to form a joint list in the [[2024 European Parliament election in the Netherlands|European Parliament elections on 6 June  2024]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraaf.nl/nieuws/153607069/sgp-en-christen-unie-gaan-scheiden-in-europees-parlement-pijnlijke-breuk|title=SGP and ChristenUnie part ways in European Parliament: 'Painful Split'|first=Alexander|last=Bakker|date=14 July 2022|accessdate=3 January 2023|work=[[De Telegraaf]]|language=nl}}</ref> SGP managed to get enough votes for a seat, while Christian Union fell just below the threshold.

== House of Representatives ==
In 1973, electoral alliances became possible, and in 1977 the parties formed an electoral alliance at the initiative of the RPF, despite the GPV wanting to ally only with the SGP and not with the RPF. Due to poor results, the GPV chose not to participate in an electoral alliance with the RPF in 1981, leading to an alliance only between the SGP and the RPF. This was so successful for the RPF that the GPV decided to participate again the following year. Since then, there was always an electoral alliance between the three parties (or two parties, after the RPF and GPV merged into the Christian Union) until the abolition of electoral alliances after the [[2017 Dutch general election|2017 general election]].<ref name="HippeVoerman" />

==Election results==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
! scope="col" | Election
! scope="col" | List
! scope="col" | Votes
! scope="col" | %
! scope="col" | Seats
! scope="col" | +/–
! scope="col" | {{Refh|multi=no}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[1984 European Parliament election in the Netherlands|1984]]
| [[Party lists in the 1984 European Parliament election in the Netherlands#SGP, RPF and GPV|List]]
| 275,786
| 5.21
| {{Composition bar compact|1|25|hex={{party color|Christian Union – Reformed Political Party}}}}
| 1 {{increase}}
| style="text-align: left;" | <ref name="historicEP1984results">{{cite news|title=Kiesraad: Europees Parlement 14 juni 1984|url=https://www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl/verkiezingen/detail/EP19840614|publisher=[[Kiesraad]]|language=nl-NL|access-date=19 June 2019}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[1989 European Parliament election in the Netherlands|1989]]
| [[Party lists in the 1989 European Parliament election in the Netherlands#SGP, GPV and RPF|List]]
| 309,060
| 5.90
| {{Composition bar compact|1|25|hex={{party color|Christian Union – Reformed Political Party}}}}
| 0 {{steady}}
| style="text-align: left;" | <ref name="historicEP1989results">{{cite news|title=Kiesraad: Europees Parlement 15 juni 1989|url=https://www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl/verkiezingen/detail/EP19890615|publisher=[[Kiesraad]]|language=nl-NL|access-date=19 June 2019}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[1994 European Parliament election in the Netherlands|1994]]
| [[Party lists in the 1994 European Parliament election in the Netherlands#SGP, GPV and RPF|List]]
| 322,793
| 7.81
| {{Composition bar compact|2|31|hex={{party color|Christian Union – Reformed Political Party}}}}
| 1 {{increase}} 
| style="text-align: left;" | <ref name="historicEP1994results">{{cite news|title=Kiesraad: Europees Parlement 9 juni 1994|url=https://www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl/verkiezingen/detail/EP19940609|publisher=[[Kiesraad]]|language=nl-NL|access-date=19 June 2019}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[1999 European Parliament election in the Netherlands|1999]]
| [[Party lists in the 1999 European Parliament election in the Netherlands#SGP, GPV and RPF|List]]
| 309,612
| 8.74
| {{Composition bar compact|3|31|hex={{party color|Christian Union – Reformed Political Party}}}}
| 1 {{increase}} 
| style="text-align: left;" | <ref name="historicEP1999results">{{cite news|title=Kiesraad: Europees Parlement 10 juni 1999|url=https://www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl/verkiezingen/detail/EP19990610|publisher=[[Kiesraad]]|language=nl-NL|access-date=19 June 2019}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[2004 European Parliament election in the Netherlands|2004]]
| [[Party lists in the 2004 European Parliament election in the Netherlands#Christian Union-SGP|List]]
| 279,880
| 5.87
| {{Composition bar compact|2|27|hex={{party color|Christian Union – Reformed Political Party}}}}
| 1 {{decrease}} 
| style="text-align: left;" | <ref name="historicEP2004results">{{cite news|title=Kiesraad: Europees Parlement 10 juni 2004|url=https://www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl/verkiezingen/detail/EP20040610|publisher=[[Kiesraad]]|language=nl-NL|access-date=19 June 2019}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[2009 European Parliament election in the Netherlands|2009]]
| [[Party lists in the 2009 European Parliament election in the Netherlands#Christian Union-SGP|List]]
| 310,540
| 6.82
| {{Composition bar compact|2|25|hex={{party color|Christian Union – Reformed Political Party}}}}
| 0 {{steady}}
| style="text-align: left;" | <ref name="historicEP2009results">{{cite news|title=Kiesraad: Europees Parlement 4 juni 2009|url=https://www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl/verkiezingen/detail/EP20090604|publisher=[[Kiesraad]]|language=nl-NL|access-date=19 June 2019}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[2014 European Parliament election in the Netherlands|2014]]
|[[Party lists in the 2014 European Parliament election in the Netherlands#Christian Union-SGP|List]]
| 364,843
| 7.67
| {{Composition bar compact|2|26|hex={{party color|Christian Union – Reformed Political Party}}}}
| 0 {{steady}} 
| style="text-align: left;" | <ref name="historicEP2014results">{{cite news|title=Kiesraad: Europees Parlement 22 mei 2014|url=https://www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl/verkiezingen/detail/EP20140522|publisher=[[Kiesraad]]|language=nl-NL|access-date=19 June 2019}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[2019 European Parliament election in the Netherlands|2019]]
| [[Party lists in the 2019 European Parliament election in the Netherlands#Christian Union-SGP|List]]
| 375,660
| 6.83
| {{Composition bar compact|2|26|hex={{party color|Christian Union – Reformed Political Party}}}}
| 0 {{steady}} 
| style="text-align: left;" | <ref name="historicEP2019results">{{cite news|title=Kiesraad: Europees Parlement 23 mei 2019|url=https://www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl/verkiezingen/detail/EP20190523|publisher=[[Kiesraad]]|date=4 June 2019|language=nl-NL|access-date=19 June 2019}}</ref>
|}

==References==
<references/>

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

{{Political parties in the Netherlands}}
{{European Parliament, (Netherlands)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Christian Union, Reformed Political Party}}
[[Category:Political party alliances in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Protestant political parties]]
[[Category:Confessional parties in the Netherlands]]