Editing Christian Democratic Appeal (section)

==== 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}}