The Kresťanskodemokratická mládež Slovenska (Christian Democratic Youth of Slovakia) or KDMS is the youth organisation of the conservative Slovak political party, KDH.[4] They share the same ideological platform with the KDH: a centre-right ideology, Christian democracy and economic liberalism.[6][5][7] Membership focuses on young people aged between 15 and 35, while only those between 18 and 30 eligible to candidate for functions.[6]
| Christian Democratic Youth of Slovakia Kresťanskodemokratická mládež Slovenska | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chairman | Matúš Mesároš[1] |
| Secretary General | Alexander Füle"Facebook". Facebook. Retrieved 21 April 2023. |
| Founded | 1990 |
| Headquarters | Staromestská 596/6D, 81103 Bratislava[2] |
| Membership | 400 (2015)[3] |
| Ideology | Christian democracy[4][5] Conservatism[4] Economic liberalism[4] Pro-Europeanism[3] |
| Position | Centre-right |
| Colours | white, blue, red, black, cyan, purple |
| Mother party | Christian Democratic Movement |
| International affiliation | International Young Democrat Union |
| European affiliation | Youth of the European People's Party |
| Website | kdms.sk |
KDMS claims to be the largest political youth organization in Slovakia with about 300 members in 2009 and 400 members in 2015.[8][3]
History edit
The organisation was founded in 1990 as a Voluntary association cooperating since its outsets with the KDH party.[9] The foundation of Christian democratic organisation was supported by first president of KDH, Ján Čarnogurský.[10] In its beginnings, KDMS began with around 20,000 members of the first post-communist generation, with four regional offices.[3] The partnership with KDH has been not formally approved by the party and the youth organisation until 1993, as members of KDMS cooperated with KDH-split party, Christian Social Union (KSÚ) of Ján Klepáč, as well, while KDH cooperating with other youth organisation, Civic Democratic Youth of Slovakia (ODM), too.[5] In 1990s the members of KDMS have criticised then-ruling HZDS party for its autocratic practices.[10]
In 2008, the organisation suffered from the split in KDH and creation of new political party, Conservative Democrats of Slovakia (KDS), as the then-leadership switched for KDS and only 200 members remained in the KDMS.[3] The organisation flourished back again in 2010s, with ca. 400 members in 2015.[3] In 2018, KDMS has criticised the slow progress of the reconstruction of the university dormitories in Slovakia under SMER-SD-led coalition.[11]
KDMS regularly organizes discussions, seminars and conferences, during the summers the main activity is the climb to the Ďumbier peak in Nízke Tatry mountain range, organised as a week-long programme since 1991.[10][3] The aim of the organisation is to educate and aid young people with their professional growth as future leaders.[4] Since 2020, KDMS organizes Political Academy of Women to support young women's interest in politics and Communal Academy for perspective communal politicians.[12]
Ideology edit
KDMS holds socially conservative and Christianity-based positions in socio-cultural issues and assumes a definite attitude against left-wing politics.[3] Its public appearance has been described as the projection of religious content into political discourse.[3] It clearly positions itself as centre right-wing association.[5]
Chairpersons edit
International relations edit
Since July 1994, KDMS has been a member of Democrat Youth Community of Europe (European Committee of Youth, DEMYC), after being an associated member since 1991.[3][5] The KDMS is a member of the Youth of the European People's Party (YEPP), an umbrella organisation of Christian Democratic and conservative youth organisations of Europe.[1] It achieved the full membership in 2015.[13] It is also a member of International Young Democrat Union.[14] KDMS closely cooperates with German think-tanks of CDU and CSU, Konrad Adenauer Foundation and Hanns Seidel Foundation.[15]
References edit
- ^ a b c "KDMS Christian Democratic Youth of Slovakia". Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ a b "Register mimovládnych neziskových organizácií – Kresťanskodemokratická mládež Slovenska". ives.minv.sk. Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Karásek, Matej; Kollárová, Ľubica. "The Christian Democratic Youth of Slovakia: Christian Legacy, Post-Socialist Memory and the Spirit of Capitalism". Ethnologia Actualis. 15 (1/2015): 40–64. doi:10.1515/eas-2015-0008. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Kyselicová, Alžbeta (9 September 2020). "Cesta, ktorou šiel Hlina, nebola úplne správna, no urobil veľa dobrého, hovorí Kabina z mladých "KDH-ákov"". tyzden.sk. .týždeň. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Štefančík, Radoslav (2010). Politické mládežnícke organizácie na Slovensku. Bratislava: IUVENTA. p. 140 p. ISBN 978-80-8072-111-4.
- ^ a b "KDMS Statutes" (PDF). Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ a b "KDMS si ho obzvlášť váži pre jeho lásku k mladým ľuďom". sme.sk. SME. 2 April 2005. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ "KDMS". Retrieved 19 January 2021.
- ^ Mihálik, Jaroslav; Garaj, Michal; Bardovič, Jakub (12 February 2022). "Social Media and Political Communication of Youth Political Organisations in Slovakia, Czechia and European Level: A Cross-Case Analysis". Social Sciences. 11 (2). MDPI AG: 69. doi:10.3390/socsci11020069. ISSN 2076-0760.
- ^ a b c d Bobula, Peter (2015). "História KDH". kdh.sk. KDH. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ a. s., Petit Press (1 February 2018). "Too little, too late". Slovak Spectator. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ "Politická akadémia žien". kdms.sk. 30 January 2020. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ Talpas, Botond (18 May 2015). "MIÉRT delegation attended YEPP Congress". miert.ro. MIÉRT. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ "Members". 8 July 2021.
- ^ "20 Jahre im Kampf für die Demokratie – neue Herausforderungen für die Christdemokratische Jugend der Slowakei". kas.de. Konrad Adenauer Foundation. 11 December 2009. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
External links edit
- KDMS – Official site (Slovak)
- Youth of the European People's Party – Official site (English)