Christian Social UnionCSUGerman Christlich-Soziale Union
conservative German political party that was founded in Bavaria,
Germany, in 1946 by various Roman Catholic and Protestant groups
and is committed to free enterprise, federalism, and a united
Europe operating under Christian principles.  Since December
1946, when party leader Josef Müller guided the CSU to an
overall majority in that year’s Land (state) elections, the CSU
has governed Bavaria continuously with only one exception
(1954–57), though until 1962 it was sometimes forced to form a
coalition with other parties. In national elections it has
consistently performed well, averaging well—averaging more than
half of the votes in Bavaria.Bavaria—into the 21st century. In
2008, however, having suffered its worst state election results
since 1954, it lost its long-standing absolute majority in the
state.  The CSU is the Bavarian affiliate of the Christian
Democratic Union (CDU); although the CSU has its own leadership,
organization, and fund-raising str