Christene Volkspartij

The party was founded in 1893 by the Belgian priest Adolf Daens, who was inspired by the papal encyclical Rerum novarum of Pope Leo XIII, issued in 1891.

In spite of all opposition the Christene Volkspartij succeeded in gaining representation in the Belgian parliament, with Adolf Daens as its foremost leader.

In parliament Daens quickly got into conflict with the conservative Catholic leader Charles Woeste and tried to gain support from the Socialists.

When the Christene Volkspartij started to grow and threatened the political power of the Socialists, the latter withheld further cooperation.

Daensism had a permanent influence in the arrondissement Aalst and created the foundations of Christian democracy in Belgium.