Editing Christian Democratic Appeal (section)

==History==

=== Founding ===
==== Predecessor parties ====
{{Main|Christian democracy in the Netherlands}}
Since 1880, Catholics and the Protestant [[Anti-Revolutionary Party]] (ARP) collaborated in the so-called [[Coalition (Netherlands)|Coalition]]. They shared a common goal of securing [[School struggle (Netherlands)|public funding for religious schools]], which was achieved through the [[Pacification of 1917]]. In 1888, they established the first Christian democratic cabinet, the [[Mackay cabinet]].{{sfn|Ten Napel|1992|pp=28-29}} This cooperation, however, was not without challenges, and in 1894, more [[anti-Catholic]] and aristocratic [[conservatives]] split from the ARP to form what would become the [[Christian Historical Union]] (CHU) in 1908.{{sfn|Ten Napel|1992|p=31}} Within both parties, there remained a desire to reunite.{{sfn|Ten Napel|1992|pp=33-35}} Meanwhile, in 1904, the [[General League of Roman Catholic Caucuses]] was formed, eventually evolving into the [[Roman Catholic State Party]] (RKSP) in 1926 and later the [[Catholic People's Party]] (KVP) in 1945.{{sfn|Ten Napel|1992|pp=25-28}}

During the [[Interwar period]], all three parties remained continuously in government. After [[World War II]], however, the KVP distanced itself from the CHU and especially the ARP, refraining from governing with them until 1952 and 1958, respectively, instead forming [[Roman/Red]] cabinets with the [[Labour Party (Netherlands)|Labour Party]] (PvdA).{{sfn|Ten Napel|1992|pp=41-42}} Meanwhile, the parties began collaborating at the European level, with the CHU and ARP joining the KVP in the [[Nouvelles Equipes Internationale]] in 1953.{{sfn|Ten Napel|1992|pp=52-55}}{{sfn|Gradus|Harinck|Hoentjen|Van Kessel|2012|p=21}} Due to [[secularisation]] and [[Pillarisation#Depillarisation|depillarisation]], the three parties lost their combined majority{{efn|They held a total of 75 of the 150 seats.}} in the [[1959 Dutch general election|1959 general election]] for the first time since 1918.{{sfn|Ten Napel|1992|pp=79-86}}

==== Merger talks ====
Influenced by the [[Second Vatican Council]], the KVP published the report ''{{lang|nl|Grondslag en karakter van de KVP}}'' ({{translation|Foundation and Character of the KVP}}) and adopted its conclusions, which called for Christian democratic cooperation, in December 1966.{{sfn|Ten Napel|1992|pp=86-92}} The [[Night of Schmelzer]] in October 1966 exposed divisions both between and within the three parties, leading to disappointing election results for each.{{sfn|Ten Napel|1992|pp=112-119}} Consequently, the three parties accepted an ARP initiative to form the [[Group of Eighteen]] in April 1967, comprising six prominent politicians from each party, tasked with establishing a common foundation for Christian politics and, if successful, determining the best path forward.{{sfn|Ten Napel|1992|pp=119-121}}

Meanwhile, [[Christian left|Christian-radical]] members within the three parties grew dissatisfied with their support in the [[1967 Dutch general election|1967 general election]], as they favored cooperation with progressive parties over alignment with the [[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy]] (VVD) in the [[De Jong cabinet]].{{sfn|Ten Napel|1992|pp=121-127}} To prevent this group from disrupting party cooperation, the leaders of the three parties announced on 14 February 1968 that in the next election, they would either unite into a single Christian party or only join the cabinet together.{{sfn|Ten Napel|1992|pp=138-143}} This announcement led a group of KVP radicals to leave the party the same month, founding the [[Political Party of Radicals]] (PPR).{{sfn|Ten Napel|1992|pp=143-145}} Two years later, a group of ARP radicals also left to establish the [[Evangelical Progressive Party]] (EVP).<ref name="EVP">{{Cite web|url=https://www.parlement.com/id/vh8lnhrpfxtl/evangelische_volkspartij_evp|title=Evangelische Volkspartij (EVP)|language=nl|access-date=2 August 2024|work=[[Parlement.com]]}}</ref>

In 1969, the Group of Eighteen proposed drafting a joint "urgency programme,"{{sfn|Ten Napel|1992|pp=154-156}} which the parties completed shortly before the [[1971 Dutch general election|1971 general election]], where they again lost seats.{{sfn|Ten Napel|1992|pp=160-162}} Following up on the Group of Eighteen, the Contact Council was established in 1972 to further develop their cooperation.{{sfn|Ten Napel|1992|pp=181-194}} Led by KVP Senator [[Piet Steenkamp]], the council issued a memorandum in June 1972, advocating a single candidate list for the next election and the formation of a Christian democratic movement, with membership open to members of the three parties as well as direct members.{{sfn|Ten Napel|1992|pp=196-201}}

A month later, however, the [[first Biesheuvel cabinet]] collapsed, leaving insufficient time to prepare a single candidate list, resulting in another loss in the [[1972 Dutch general election|1972 general election]].{{sfn|Ten Napel|1992|pp=201-207}} As part of its [[polarisation strategy]], the PvdA persuaded several KVP and ARP politicians to join its progressive [[Den Uyl cabinet]] during the [[1972–1973 Dutch cabinet formation|1972–1973 cabinet formation]]. This arrangement required their parliamentary groups to provide [[confidence and supply]], while the CHU moved into opposition.{{sfn|Ten Napel|1992|pp=207-211}}{{sfn|Gradus|Harinck|Hoentjen|Van Kessel|2012|p=30}} This shift complicated the merger process, as the CHU stipulated that a joint list would depend on the "actual parliamentary political situation" (the so-called "political mortgage").{{sfn|Zwart|1996|p=242}}

==== Federation ====
[[File:Aantjes tijdens zijn rede, Bestanddeelnr 928-1183.jpg|thumb|ARP leader [[Willem Aantjes]] held a speech during the first CDA convention in 1975 in which he argued for the importance of the evangelical guidelines in the party. The speech became known as his ''sermon on the mount''.{{sfn|Gradus|Harinck|Hoentjen|Van Kessel|2012|p=31}}]]
Nevertheless, based on the memorandum, the Christian Democratic Appeal was officially formed as a pre-federation in 1973,{{sfn|Ten Napel|1992|pp=211-219}} with Steenkamp as its chairperson. It would employ a "growth model", in which they would work out political and organizational details, while keeping the original parties until the last moment.{{sfn|Ten Napel|1992|pp=219-222}} Meanwhile discussions continued on the role of the Bible in the party{{sfn|Zwart|1996|pp=244-247}} and the political course. When the pre-federation was turned into a federation in 1975, some conservative members of the CHU and ARP left to form the [[Reformatory Political Federation]] (RPF).{{sfn|Zwart|1996|p=243}}

===Van Agt cabinets, 1977–1982===
[[File:Kabinetsformatie heer Steenkamp (l) en Van Agt, Bestanddeelnr 929-3857 (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|The CDA's founder and inaugural chairman [[Piet Steenkamp]] (left) and inaugural party leader and Prime Minister [[Dries van Agt]] (right) in 1977]]
In 1976, the three parties announced that they would field a single candidate list at the [[1977 Dutch general election|1977 general election]], after their parliamentary groups had intensified cooperation.{{sfn|Zwart|1996|pp=275-279}} KVP [[minister of Justice]] [[Dries van Agt]] was the [[lead candidate]]. The election manifesto was titled "Not by bread alone" ({{langx|nl|Niet bij brood alleen}}) and was progressive.<ref name="manifestos1977-1982" >{{Cite web|url=https://cda-digitaal.dnpp.nl/perioden/1977-1982/programmas|title=Programma's 1977 - 1982|language=nl|access-date=4 August 2024}}</ref> The list was able to get one seat more than the three parties together five years earlier. Based on the results, a cabinet of PvdA, CDA and [[Democrats 66]] (D66) was most likely and was discussed at the start of the [[1977 Dutch cabinet formation|1977 cabinet formation]]. After seven months, the negotiations finally collapsed, after it had been suspended multiple times. Soon after, Van Agt was able to form the [[first Van Agt cabinet]] with the conservative liberal [[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy]] (VVD).

Some progressive MPs nicknamed the [[CDA loyalists|loyalists]], which included parliamentary leader [[Willem Aantjes]], did not commit to support the cabinet, but only tolerated it. Their opposition forced the cabinet to compromise on the [[Netherlands and weapons of mass destruction|placement of nuclear weapons in the Netherlands]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.trouw.nl/politiek/de-kruisraket-liet-het-cda-bijna-ontploffen~b8a3dcf1/|title=De kruisraket liet het CDA bijna ontploffen|access-date=6 August 2024|first=Wilfred|last=Scholten|date=24 September 2020|language=nl|work=[[Trouw]]}}</ref> This issue would continue to divide the party until it was resolved in the 1980s and would contribute to the removal of loyalists [[Jan Nico Scholten]] and [[Stef Dijkman]] from the parliamentary group in 1983.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.parlement.com/id/vkdudb3hxls5/afsplitsing_groep_scholten_dijkman_1983|title=Afsplitsing Groep-Scholten/Dijkman (1983)|work=[[Parlement.com]]|access-date=6 August 2024|language=nl}}</ref> Nevertheless, the first Van Agt cabinet was able to complete its term.

The federation was founding member of the [[European People's Party]] on 8 July 1978.{{sfn|Gradus|Harinck|Hoentjen|Van Kessel|2012|p=63}} For the [[1979 European Parliament election in the Netherlands|1979 European Parliament election]], they had first selected [[Wim Vergeer]] (KVP), but after [[Ruud Lubbers]] (KVP) had replaced Aantjes as parliamentary leader, [[Bouke Beumer]] (ARP) was selected. CDA won ten out of 25 seats and was the largest Dutch delegation to distribute the leadership between the parties.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cda-digitaal.dnpp.nl/perioden/1977-1982/europa|title=Europa 1977 - 1982|language=nl|access-date=4 August 2024}}</ref>

[[File:Fusie congres CDA in Den Haag , ondertekenen fusieprotoc zittend voorzitter Stee, Bestanddeelnr 931-0785.jpg|thumb|Outgoing CDA party chair [[Piet Steenkamp]] signing the merger during the merger convention on 11 October 1980 with to the right vice-chair [[Jim Janssen van Raaij]] and to the left [[Madeleen Leyten-de Wijkerslooth de Weerdesteyn|Madeleen Leyten]].<br/>Behind them are from right to left the party chairs: [[Piet Bukman]] (incoming CDA), [[Luck van Leeuwen]] (CHU), [[Hans de Boer]] (ARP) and [[Piet van Zeil]] (KVP).]]
On 11 October 1980, the three original parties ceased to exist and the CDA was founded as a unitary party. The differences between the groups would continue to exist for a long time within the party.{{sfn|Gradus|Harinck|Hoentjen|Van Kessel|2012|p=36}} It led to another group of members leaving the party and joining with the EPV to found the [[Evangelical People's Party (Netherlands)|Evangelical People's Party]] (EVP).<ref name="EVP"/>

For the [[1981 Dutch general election|1981 general election]], Van Agt was reelected as lead candidate.<ref name="history1977-1982"/> Its election manifesto was titled "For a meaningful existence" ({{langx|nl|Om een zinvol bestaan}}) and compared to the previous manifesto shifted responsibility from the government to society.<ref name="manifestos1977-1982"/> CDA became the largest party, despite losing a seat. Because CDA and VVD had lost their majority, the [[second Van Agt cabinet]] with PvdA and D66 was formed in the [[1981 Dutch cabinet formation|1981 cabinet formation]]. Bad relations between PvdA and CDA led to crises from the start, and the cabinet fell within a year.<ref name="history1977-1982" >{{Cite web|url=https://cda-digitaal.dnpp.nl/perioden/1977-1982/geschiedenis|title=Geschiedenis 1977 - 1982|language=nl|access-date=4 August 2024}}</ref> Van Agt led the [[rump cabinet]] [[third Van Agt cabinet|Van Agt III]] with D66 to prepare the next election.

===Lubbers cabinets, 1982–1994===
[[File:Opdracht Financieel Dagblad interview met premier Lubbers, Bestanddeelnr 933-2721.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Ruud Lubbers]], party leader and Prime Minister from 1982 until 1994.]]
Van Agt was again [[lead candidate]] for the [[1982 Dutch general election|general election]] and its manifesto was the same as the previous year with an attachment.<ref name="manifestos1977-1982"/> CDA lost three seats and ended second after PvdA. After the elections, Van Agt announced that he would leave politics and was succeeded as party leader by Lubbers. During the [[September–November 1982 Dutch cabinet formation|September–November 1982 cabinet formation]], Lubbers would form the [[first Lubbers cabinet]] with the VVD. To combat the economic crisis, the cabinet implemented [[budget cut]]s, limited the [[welfare state]] and privatised state-owned companies.<ref name="manifestos1982-1994"/> A major achievement was the [[Wassenaar Agreement]] in 1982, in which [[trade union]]s agreed to wage moderation in exchange for reduction of working hours by [[employers' organisation]]s. This would be the start of the [[polder model]], a concept in line with CDA's principle of distributed responsibility.{{sfn|Gradus|Harinck|Hoentjen|Van Kessel|2012|p=37}}

The [[1986 Dutch general election|1986 general election]] took place when the economy was improving,<ref name="elections 1982-1994">{{Cite web|url=https://cda-digitaal.dnpp.nl/perioden/1982-1994/verkiezingen-en-regering|title=Verkiezingen en regering 1982 - 1994 |language=nl|access-date=4 August 2024}}</ref> but the manifesto nevertheless focused on reducing the welfare state and shifting the responsibility to society.<ref name="manifestos1982-1994">{{Cite web|url=https://cda-digitaal.dnpp.nl/perioden/1982-1994/programmas|title=Programma's 1982 - 1994 |language=nl|access-date=4 August 2024}}</ref> Given Lubber's popularity for his "no-nonsense approach", the slogan was "Let Lubbers finish his job" ({{langx|nl|Laat Lubbers zijn afmaken}}). CDA won 54 seats, the highest a single party had ever won, mostly at the expense of the VVD.<ref name="elections 1982-1994"/> After the [[1986 Dutch cabinet formation|1986 cabinet formation]], the [[second Lubbers cabinet]] continuing with VVD as coalition partner. VVD felt like being in the supporting role, and finally brought down the cabinet in 1989 over the travel expenses allowance.<ref name="elections 1982-1994"/>

The manifesto for the [[1989 Dutch general election|1989 general election]] built upon the previous with the addition of environmental management among the priorities.<ref name="manifestos1982-1994"/> The CDA kept its 54 seats and after the [[1989 Dutch cabinet formation|1989 cabinet formation]] the [[third Lubbers cabinet]] was formed with the PvdA. A notable reform in line with the CDA principle of distributed responsibility, was the privatization of the [[housing association]]s by CDA State Secretary for Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment [[Enneüs Heerma]], with which he started in 1989 and was finished in 1994.{{sfn|Gradus|Harinck|Hoentjen|Van Kessel|2012|p=39}}

===Opposition to Purple, 1994–2002===
[[File:Tweede Kamer interpellatie Den Uyl over uitlatingen minister Brinkman in Vrij , Bestanddeelnr 932-9560.jpg|thumb|[[Elco Brinkman]] and [[Ruud Lubbers]] during a debate in 1984.]]
In the run-up to the [[1994 Dutch general election|1994 general election]], Lubbers announced he would retire from Dutch politics and had named [[Elco Brinkman]] his successor. During the campaign, Lubbers appeared to distance himself from Brinkman. Furthermore, the freezing of [[Pensions in the Netherlands|pensions]] they had included in their manifesto proved unpopular with its elderly voters. CDA lost 20 of its 54 seats.<ref name="elections 1982-1994"/> The [[1994 Dutch cabinet formation|1994 cabinet formation]] led to the first [[purple coalition]], the first time since 1918 that CDA or its predecessors were not part of a cabinet. [[Enneüs Heerma]] succeeded Brinkman as parliamentary leader and attempted to be the voice of the opposition and bring the topic of family on the political agenda, but failed in both.<ref name="elections 1994-2001">{{Cite web|url=https://cda-digitaal.dnpp.nl/perioden/1994-2001/verkiezingen-en-regering|title=Verkiezingen en regering 1994 - 2001|language=nl|access-date=4 August 2024}}</ref>

[[Jaap de Hoop Scheffer]] was selected as [[lead candidate]] for the [[1998 Dutch general election|1998 general election]].<ref name="elections 1994-2001"/> The election manifesto "You don't live together alone" ({{langx|nl|Samenleven doe je niet alleen}}) differed from previous ones, focusing on [[communitarianism]] in contrast to the [[individualism]] of the purple coalition.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cda-digitaal.dnpp.nl/perioden/1994-2001/programmas|title=Programma's 1994 - 2001 |language=nl|access-date=4 August 2024}}</ref> However, De Hoop Scheffers was relatively unknown compared to his opponents, and the CDA, as a centrist party, struggled to simultaneously target both the left-wing PvdA and the right-wing VVD. It led to another loss of five seats and a continuation of the cabinet without CDA.<ref name="elections 1994-2001"/>

===Balkenende cabinets, 2002–2010===
[[File:Jan Peter Balkenende 2006.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Jan Peter Balkenende]], party leader from 2001 until 2010 and Prime Minister from 2002 until 2010.]]
In the run-up to the [[2002 Dutch general election|2002 general election]], a leadership crisis erupted between party leader De Hoop Scheffer and party chair [[Marnix van Rij]], after which they both left.{{sfn|Gradus|Harinck|Hoentjen|Van Kessel|2012|p=42}} De Hoop Scheffer was succeeded as lead candidate by [[Jan Peter Balkenende]]. The campaign was dominated by the right-wing politician [[Pim Fortuyn]] and [[Pim Fortuyn List]] (LPF) with his critique of the purple cabinets. Fortuyn and Balkenende had agreed not to attack each other during the campaign. Near the end of the campaign, [[Assassination of Pim Fortuyn|Fortuyn was assassinated]], which led to civil unrest. In the election, many people voted for the CDA, hoping that it could bring stability and because it had not attacked Fortuyn like many other parties.{{sfn|Voerman|2011|p=14}} CDA became the largest party with 43 seats, followed by LPF with 26 seats. In the [[2002 Dutch cabinet formation|2002 cabinet formation]], the [[first Balkenende cabinet]] was formed with CDA, VVD and LPF. The cabinet would fall after only three months due to struggles within the LPF.<ref name="Elections 2001-2010">{{Cite web|url=https://cda-digitaal.dnpp.nl/perioden/2001-2010/verkiezingen-en-regering|title=Verkiezingen en regering 2001 - 2010 |language=nl|access-date=4 August 2024}}</ref>

CDA won another seat in the [[2003 Dutch general election|2003 general election]] and remained the largest party. CDA started negotiations with PvdA in the [[2003 Dutch cabinet formation|2003 cabinet formation]], but after this failed, the [[second Balkenende cabinet]] was formed with VVD and D66. To comply with the deficit limits of the European [[Stability and Growth Pact]], the cabinet cut back on social security, leading to protest within CDA.<ref name="Elections 2001-2010"/> A major reform, which was started under the previous cabinet, was the introduction of a [[Healthcare in the Netherlands|new system of health care insurance plan]], which made an end to the distinction between public and private healthcare insurance funds, with the aim of reducing costs and waiting lists.{{sfn|Gradus|Harinck|Hoentjen|Van Kessel|2012|p=43}} The cabinet fell in 2006 after D66 left, leading to the [[2006 Dutch cabinet formation|formation]] of the [[third Balkenende cabinet]] as rump cabinet with VVD.<ref name="Elections 2001-2010"/>

CDA lost three seats, but remained the largest party after the [[2006 Dutch general election|2006 general election]]. In the [[2006-2007 Dutch cabinet formation|cabinet formation]] it formed the [[fourth cabinet Balkenende]] with PvdA and the [[Christian Union (Netherlands)|Christian Union]] (CU). The cabinet was confronted with the [[2008 financial crisis]], leading to the nationalisation of some banks. CDA and PvdA disagreed a lot, and PvdA finally left the cabinet in 2010.<ref name="Elections 2001-2010"/>

===Rutte cabinets, 2010–2023 ===
[[File:Rutte, Verhagen en Wilders bij presentatie regeer- en gedoogakkoord (5121025524).jpg|thumb|[[Maxime Verhagen]] (left) with VVD party leader [[Mark Rutte]] and PVV [[Geert Wilders]] during the presentation of the coalition agreement after the [[2010 Dutch cabinet formation|2010 cabinet formation]].]]
Despite open internal opposition, Balkenende was again selected as lead candidate for the [[2010 Dutch general election|2010 general election]], in which CDA lost half of its seats. Balkenende announced his resignation as party leader and was replaced by [[Maxime Verhagen]].<ref name="Elections 2001-2010"/> At first, Verhagen was aiming for opposition during the [[2010 Dutch cabinet formation|2010 cabinet formation]]. However, after talks between [[Purple coalition|purple plus]] collapsed, CDA entered negotiations with VVD and [[Party for Freedom]] (PVV), the latter would be providing [[confidence and supply]]. Within the party, some opposed a coalition with the [[radical right (Europe)|radical right]] PVV. Verhagen's co-negotiator [[Ab Klink]] resigned over the negotiations and two other MPs threatened to oppose the coalition, which would make it lose its majority. A {{ill|2010 CDA cabinet formation convention|nl|CDA-kabinetsformatiecongres 2010|lt=special party convention}} was held to approve the result of the negotiations, which 68% of the record 4,700 members did.{{sfn|Gradus|Harinck|Hoentjen|Van Kessel|2012|p=44}} On 14 October, the [[first Rutte cabinet]] was sworn in with Verhagen as Deputy Prime Minister.

[[File:Sybrand van Haersma Buma EPP 2014 (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|left|[[Sybrand van Haersma Buma]], party leader from 2012 until 2019.]]
After the fall of the short-lived first Rutte cabinet in 2012, CDA held a [[2012 Christian Democratic Appeal leadership election|leadership election]], which was won by interim parliamentary leader [[Sybrand Buma]], with runner-up [[Mona Keijzer]] receiving 26% of the votes. The election manifesto for the [[2012 Dutch general election|2012 general election]] was titled "Everyone" ({{langx|nl|Iedereen}}) after a Strategic Deliberation had advised a position in the "[[radical centrism|radical centre]]", focusing on all layers of society.<ref name="programmes 2010-2020"/> In the election, CDA fell to 13 seats. CDA played no role in the [[2012 Dutch cabinet formation|2012 cabinet formation]] which lead to the [[second Rutte cabinet]] and also stayed out of agreements the coalition made with opposition parties.<ref name="History 2010-2020"/> In opposition, Buma followed a right-conservative line,<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.tijdschriftcdv.nl/inhoud/tijdschrift_artikel/CD-2019-2-24/Rust-en-stilstand-het-CDA-in-de-Buma-jaren|title=Rust én stilstand: het CDA in de Buma-jaren|date=5 June 2023|journal=Christen Democratische Verkenningen|first=Tom W.G.|last=Van der Meer|volume=2019 |issue=2 |access-date=30 July 2024|language=nl}}</ref> embracing the "angry citizen" and focusing on [[Social norm|norms]] and [[Value (ethics and social sciences)|values]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cda-digitaal.dnpp.nl/perioden/2010-2020/verkiezingen-en-regering|title=Verkiezingen en regering 2010 - 2020 |language=nl|access-date=6 August 2024}}</ref>

Its manifesto for the [[2017 Dutch general election|2017 general election]], "Choices for a better Netherlands", focused on norms and values, Dutch identity, insecurities and opposed excessive individualism.<ref name="programmes 2010-2020">{{Cite web|url=https://cda-digitaal.dnpp.nl/perioden/2010-2020/programmas|title=Programma's 2010 - 2020|language=nl|access-date=6 August 2024}}</ref> The CDA gained sixed seats and joined the [[third Rutte cabinet]], with the VVD, D66 and CU.<ref name="History 2010-2020">{{Cite web|url=https://cda-digitaal.dnpp.nl/perioden/2010-2020/geschiedenis|title=Geschiedenis 2010 - 2020 |language=nl|access-date=6 August 2024}}</ref>

[[File:Wopke Hoekstra op bezoek op het ROC Mondriaan 02 (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Wopke Hoekstra]], party leader from 2021 until 2023.]]
Buma resigned in May 2019 and was succeeded temporarily by [[Pieter Heerma]] as parliamentary leader. A [[2020 Christian Democratic Appeal leadership election|leadership election]] did not take place until July 2020. The chaotic election was narrowly won by Deputy Prime Minister and [[Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (Netherlands)|Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport]] [[Hugo de Jonge]], with MP [[Pieter Omtzigt]] as runner-up. De Jonge withdrew as lead candidate in December, because he could not combine it with his duties as minister during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. In his place, the party board appointed Minister of Finance [[Wopke Hoekstra]].<ref name="History 2020 - present"/>

The party lost four seats in the [[2021 Dutch general election|March 2021 election]].<ref name="History 2020 - present">{{Cite web|url=https://cda-digitaal.dnpp.nl/perioden/2020-heden/geschiedenis|title=Geschiedenis 2020 - heden |access-date=3 August 2024|language=nl}}</ref> After the [[2021-2022 Dutch cabinet formation|longest ever cabinet formation]] the party continued in [[fourth Rutte cabinet]], which had the same composition as the previous. During the formation, Omtzigt had left the party, alleging he had been treated unfairly in the party, and later started the party [[New Social Contract]] (NSC). During the cabinet period, the party struggled with its position in the [[Nitrogen crisis in the Netherlands|nitrogen crisis]] and the [[Dutch farmers' protests|farmers' protests]] that followed. The party faced electoral competition from the new political party [[Farmer–Citizen Movement]] (BBB) on this issue.

=== Opposition, 2023–present ===
[[File:Henri Bontenbal - AD 010-Verkiezingsdebat 2023 (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|left|[[Henri Bontenbal]], party leader since August 2023.]]
For the [[2023 Dutch general election|November 2023 general election]], MP [[Henri Bontenbal]] was selected as party leader. The party received its worst result ever, securing only five seats.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NOS - Uitslagen Tweede Kamerverkiezingen 2023 |url=https://app.nos.nl/nieuws/tk2023/ |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=app.nos.nl |language=nl}}</ref>