There are numerous differences between the Anglo-American style of democracy and the German way of organizing legislature, but one of the most obvious ones is the number of relevant German political parties. Now, it’s of course not a valid method to put the British and the American model on the same end of the range of democratic systems, but for the sake of argument, let’s do it anyway.
Comparing Germany and English-Speaking Countries
Aside from the very different democratic institutions, both systems share the presence of two major parties, with all other existing parties being virtually nonessential. From afar it’s quite easy to forget that there are green parties in England or the United States, for example. Germany, however, has a tradition of a high number of visible and audible parties that struggle for election into the parliament, with usually about four to six parties ending up there.
Even though the past decades saw only a few changes regarding who is making up the house, there still were changes. Every political party articulates its aspirations through a program. To be eligible to participate in a federal or state election in Germany and register with the Federal Election Commissioner (“Bundeswahlleiter”), a party must showcase stability, a substantial number of party members, and maintain a visible public presence.
While there are thousands of political parties throughout Germany and some of them even make it to local or federal state governments and parliaments, let us take a look at only the most “important” mainstream parties – the historical parties that shaped the history of the Federal Republic of Germany (especially after the Reunification in 1990).
Political Parties Represented in the Bundestag and/or the European Parliament
Germany’s political landscape is characterized by a diverse array of parties, each championing distinct values and visions for governance. Notably, Alliance 90/The Greens, recognized for their commitment to green politics, social liberalism, and a pro-European stance, commands 118 seats in the Bundestag, boasting a substantial membership of approximately 106,000 individuals.
On the opposite spectrum, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) advocates right-wing populism, national conservatism, and opposition to the European Union, securing 80 seats and garnering 28,636 members.
The Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) and its Bavarian counterpart, the Christian Social Union of Bavaria (CSU), align with Christian democracy, liberal conservatism, and pro-European values, collectively holding 197 seats in the center-right bloc.
The Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), a center-left force with 206 seats, champions social democracy and European integration. Amidst these major players, smaller yet impactful parties contribute to the political mosaic, such as the satirical Die ParTEI promoting left-wing ideals and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) advocating liberalism and pro-Europeanism from the center-right.
The SPD – the Social Democratic Party
Founded in the 19th century, the SPD (Social Democratic Party of Germany) is the oldest, still active major political party in Germany. It even predates the first German Republic, the Weimarer Republik, and recently celebrated its 125th anniversary. It is also known as “People’s Party” (“Volkspartei”).
Even though our current government consists of a so-called “great coalition” of the SPD and the CDU, the social democrats have been the biggest rivals of the CDU since its foundation in 1945. Famous German chancellors such as Helmut Schmidt and Willy Brandt have risen from the Ranks of the party. But it seems as if the glorious times of the SPD are behind the party.
Even though it is part of various Federal State governments and the current German one as well, it hasn’t been the leading part of a national government in quite a while and has been continuously losing votes on all fronts for years.
The CSU (Christian Social Union) is the “sister party” of the CDU- and together, they are referred to as the “Union”. Like the CDU it has an aging voter base. The SPD’s most fertile ground in Germany remains in the industrial regions of Western Germany, particularly the Ruhr region in North Rhine-Westphalia.
© Pixabay
The CDU – The Christian Democratic Union
The Christian Democratic Union is Angela Merkel’s party. Before Merkel, who could run for her fourth successive term in 2017, the last CDU-chancellor was Helmut Kohl, who served three consecutive terms.
Founded in 1950 in West Germany following World War II, the CDU served as a unifying force for Christian conservative voters across Germany. Throughout the postwar era, it emerged as the predominant political entity, playing a key role in the reunification of Germany and holding government leadership for the majority of that period, often in conjunction with its Bavarian “sister party” Christian Social Union (“Christlich Soziale Union,” or CSU). The Christian Social Union is active in Bavaria, while the CDU is active in other federal states.
One could safely assume that the CDU was the steering power in German politics since before the Reunification. While the SPD could be the German equivalent of the US-Democrats, the CDU would serve as our version of the Republicans.
Therefore the CDU is a conservative party, though one has to say that both CDU and SPD moved towards each other in recent years, making it more difficult for voters to spot the differences between the two. While the CDU, successor to the Zentrum-party which the National Socialists in the Third Reich forbade, has been the most successful party for a while now, the last couple of years saw its influence on a Federal State level dwindle. Today, there is only one Federal CDU-Government left in Germany.
Bündnis 90/Die Grünen – The Green Party
The Alliance ’90/The Greens originated from various social protest movements in the German Democratic Republic in the 1980s that eventually coalesced. Advocates of the alliance marched for diverse causes, ranging from opposing nuclear power to advocating for gay rights, all while prioritizing environmental protection and animal welfare.
When Green Party delegates were first elected into the German parliament in 1983, they caused quite an upheaval. Everything from their looks to their agendas was troublesome to the traditional inhabitants of the sacred halls of German politics. The party, which is in itself a fusion of two green parties, was a direct result of growing anti-nuclear and anti-pollution protest movements in the 1980’s as well as social movements from the 1970’s.
While the party developed into a rather social and left-wing party, it also drew more conservative members in its earlier days. Starting out as a protest party, Bündnis 90/Die Grünen became the go-to junior partner for the SPD.
Over the course of the last two decades, the party underwent some broad changes and distanced itself from its earlier incarnations. Today the Green Party even runs the government in Baden-Württemberg, a traditionally conservative state. However, one has to say that this green head of state is probably more conservative than some CDU-members.
Minor Parties
Here are also a list of political parties in Germany with smaller party membership and their unique ideologies:
- Action Citizen for Justice (AGB) focuses on direct democracy, social democracy, and alternative medicine.
- Tierschutz hier (Action Party for Animal Welfare) centers its ideology on animal rights, personal freedom, humanity, and liberalism.
- Alliance C – Christians for Germany (Bundnis C) bases its philosophy on conservatism and Christian fundamentalism.
- Alliance for Innovation and Justice (BIG) is grounded in political Islam.
- Alliance for Human Rights finds its foundation in Tierschutzallianz and animal rights.
- Alliance of German Democrats (AD-Demokraten) is rooted in conservatism and political Islam.
- AlphaHHP’s ideology is anti-vaccination.
- Anarchist Pogo Party of Germany (APPD) adopts a satirical philosophy.
- Association of the German People (Arminius – Bund) is based on Russian-German interests, German nationalism, and neo-Nazism.
- Basic Income Alliance (BGE) focuses on universal basic income.
- Basic Income for All (GFA) centers on universal basic income.
Some other smaller parties include the Bavarian Party, Bergpartei, die “UberPartei”, Climate List Germany, Citizen for Germany, Citizen for Progress and Change, Civic and Economic-Ecological Union, Civil Rights Movement Solidarity, Communist Party of Germany, Democratic Union of Germany, Democratic Liberal League, Democracy Direct!, Democracy in Motion, Democratic-Left, Liberal Democratic Party, Free Citizens’ Union, Free Parliamentary Alliance, From Now on… Democracy Through Referendum, and German Party – The Liberals.
Read The major German Parties – Part Two.
FAQs
Here are also some of the most frequently asked questions about the German political scene
What political parties exist in Germany today?
Germany has a multi-party system, but some of the prominent political parties include the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Green Party (Alliance ’90/The Greens), the Free Democratic Party (FDP), and The Left (Die Linke).
What are the 5 main political parties in Germany?
The five main political parties in Germany are the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Green Party (Alliance ’90/The Greens), the Free Democratic Party (FDP), and The Left (Die Linke).
What political party is in power in Germany?
The federal parliamentary elections in September 2021 marked a shift in the German government. The SPD, Alliance 90/The Green Party, and the FDP formed a coalition for the first time, resulting in Olaf Scholz becoming the new Federal Chancellor in December 2021. This concluded Angela Merkel’s 16-year tenure as the Federal Chancellor of Germany.
What is the left-wing party in Germany?
The Left (Die Linke) is considered a left party in Germany. The Left is a democratic socialist political party established in 2007 through the merger of the GDR Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS) and Labor and Social Justice – The Electoral Alternative. The party traces its roots to the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED), the ruling Marxist–Leninist party in former East Germany. It still has a large presence in eastern German states.
What is the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party?
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) was established in 2013, initially centered around Euroskeptic sentiments during the euro-zone debt crisis. While this right-wing populist party initially gained modest success in regional elections, the party’s popularity surged significantly when it shifted its focus to opposing immigration.
Has Germany banned any political parties?
The Federal Republic of Germany has mechanisms in place to address extremist or anti-constitutional activities, so the Federal Constitutional Court can ban parties that are deemed to pose a threat to the democratic order and constitutional principles. So far, it has twice prohibited a party: the Sozialistische Reichspartei (SRP) in 1952 and the Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands (KPD) – the Communist Party of Germany, in 1956.
Has the Free Democratic Party (FDP) been part of the federal government?
Yes, the Free Democratic Party (FDP) has been part of the federal government in Germany. The FDP has been a coalition partner in various governments, contributing to policymaking and governance. However, its participation can vary based on election outcomes and coalition negotiations.
Summing Up: Major German Political Parties – Part One
Diving into the intricacies of German politics, this article provides insights into major parties like the SPD, CDU, and the Green Party. As historical pillars, the SPD and CDU have shaped post-war Germany, while the Green Party emerged from social movements.
Examining their evolution and current positions, the narrative sheds light on the dynamics, rivalries, and changes within these influential political entities, regional parties and coalition governments. Stay tuned for Part Two, delving deeper into Germany’s political landscape and the parties that continue to play pivotal roles in its governance.