List of political parties in Germany

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This is a list of political parties in Germany.

Germany has a multi-party system, with two large parties, three substantial smaller parties, and a number of minor parties.

Contents 1 The parties 2 Minor parties 2.1 More than 0.1% of the vote at the last federal elections 2.2 Others 3 Historical parties 3.1 Parties existing before World War II 3.2 Defunct parties in (former) West Germany 3.3 Parties in (former) East Germany 3.3.1 As a socialist state 3.3.2 During transition 4 See also 5 External links

[edit] The parties

The following parties currently participate in the German parliament, the Bundestag, sorted by the number of seats (refer to the following links for details):

• Christian Democratic Union (CDU) / Christian Social Union (CSU) – christian democrat, centre-right: 27.8%, 180 seats and 7.4%, 46 seats
• Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) – social democrat, centre-left: 34.2%, 222 seats
• Free Democratic Party (FDP) – liberal, centre-right: 9.8%, 69 seats
• The Left Party (together with the WASG) – socialist, left: 8.7%, 54 seats
• Alliance '90/The Greens – green, left: 8.1%, 51 seats

Other parties. In addition to those parties that won representation in the Bundestag in 2002, a variety of minor parties won a cumulative total of 3.0% of the vote, down from 5.9% in 1998. 22 other parties were on the ballot in one or more states, but not qualified for representation in the Bundestag. The right-wing parties (e.g. neo-Nazi) remained fragmented and ineffectual at the national level.

[edit] Minor parties

[edit] More than 0.1% of the vote at the last federal elections

• National Democratic Party of Germany (Nationaldemokratische Partei Deutschlands - NPD): 1.6%
• The Republicans (Die Republikaner - REP): 0.6%
• The Grays – Gray Panther (Die grauen Panther - GRAUE): 0.4%
• Family Party of Germany (Deutsche Familienpartei): 0.4%
• Human Environment Animal Welfare (Mensch Umwelt Tierschutz): 0.2%
• Party of Bible-abiding Christians (Partei Bibeltreuer Christen - PBC): 0.2%

[edit] Others

• Anarchist Pogo Party of Germany (Anarchistische Pogo-Partei Deutschlands - APPD)
• Bavaria Party (Bayernpartei)
• German Centre Party (Deutsche Zentrumspartei - ZENTRUM)
• German Communist Party (Deutsche Kommunistische Partei - DKP)
• Christian Centre Party (Christliche Mitte - CM)
• Citizens Make Politics (Bürger machen Politik)
• Civil Rights Movement Solidarity (Bürgerrechtsbewegung Solidarität - BüSo)
• Die Violetten - für spirituelle Politik

• Ecological Democratic Party (Ökologisch-Demokratische Partei - ÖDP)
• Feminist Party of Germany (Feministische Partei - DIE FRAUEN)
• Free Voters (Freie Wähler)
• Law and Order Offensive Party (Partei rechtsstaatlicher Offensive - Offensive D)
• Marxist Leninist Party of Germany (Marxistisch-Leninistische Partei Deutschlands - MLPD)
• Die PARTEI (Partei für Arbeit, Rechtsstaat, Tierschutz, Elitenförderung und basisdemokratische Initiative - Die PARTEI), party created by editors of the satirical magazine titanic
• Social Equality Party (Partei für Soziale Gleichheit - PSG)
• South Schleswig Voter Federation (Südschleswigscher Wählerverband - SSW) - this is the party of the Danish and frisian minorities in Germany

[edit] Historical parties

[edit] Parties existing before World War II

• Bavarian People's Party (BVP) - Bavarian Regionalist (1920-1933)
• Centre Party - Christian Democrat/Conservative (1871-1947)
• Communist Party of Germany (KPD) - Communist (1919-1956)
• Communist Party Opposition (KPO)- Communist
• Conservative People's Party (KVP)
• Free Conservative Party (FKP)
• General German Workers' Association (ADAV)
• Independent Social Democratic Party of Germany (USPD) - Socialist (1917-1922)
• German Conservative Party (DKP) - Conservative (before 1918)
• German Democratic Party (DDP) - Left-Liberal (1918-1930, became the German State Party, which lasted until 1933)
• German National People's Party (DNVP) - Nationalist-Conservative (1918-1933)
• German People's Party (DVP) - National-Liberal (1918-1933)
• German Progress Party (DFP) - Left-Liberal (before 1918)
• German Racialist Freedom Party (DVFP) - anti-semitic (early Weimar period)
• German Workers' Party (DAP) - precursor to the Nazi Party (1919)
• National Liberal Party - Right Liberal (before 1918)
• National Socialist German Workers' Party - aka the Nazi Party (NSDAP) (1919-1945)
• Progressive People's Party
• Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD, still in existence)
• Social Democratic Workers' Party of Germany (SDAP) (since 1875 Social Democratic Party of Germany)
• Socialist Workers' Party of Germany (SAP) (since 1875 Social Democratic Party of Germany)
• Socialist Workers' Party of Germany (SAP) (betwenn 1931 and 1941/45 an Social Democratic Party left of the SPD)

[edit] Defunct parties in (former) West Germany

• German Party (DP) - Conservative
• German Empire Party (DRP) - Far right (1949-64)
• German Right Party (DReP) - Far right (1946-51)
• Communist Party of Germany (KPD) - Communist (1919-1956)
• Socialist Reich Party (SRP) - National Socialist

[edit] Parties in (former) East Germany

[edit] As a socialist state

• Christian Democratic Union (CDU)
• Liberal Democratic Party of Germany (LDPD)
• Democratic Farmers' Party of Germany (DBD)
• National Democratic Party of Germany (NDPD)
• Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED)

[edit] During transition

• Alliance 90
• Alliance for Germany
• Association of Free Democrats
• Democracy Now
• Democratic Awakening
• East German Green Party
• Free Democratic Party
• German Forum Party
• German Social Union
• Initiative for Peace and Human Rights
• New Forum

[edit] See also

• Lists of parties by name of the party, country, ideology or by membership of internationals; categories by country and ideology.
• History of Germany since 1945
• Liberalism in Germany

[edit] External links

• Political Parties (Germany) - List of German political parties since 1949
• Election Posters from german political parties since 1918 (German)