German Political Parties

Germany is a multi-party country and has a rich political landscape. Political parties in Germany are organized at a federal, state, and local level and are responsible for policymaking, setting and shaping ideas, and representing their constituents.

This article will explore the history, structure and current state of German political parties, the key players in German politics and the implications they have on German society.

History

Political organizations in Germany were largely centered around the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) since 1875, with various factions of left-wing and right-wing political groups gaining and losing influence throughout the 19th and 20th century, including the German Imperial Free Thinkers in 1918 and the National Socialist German Workers Party in 1933.

The 1950 Grundgesetz (German Constitution) formed the current system of parliamentary democracy based on a federal government, paving the way for a new era of party politics in Germany.

Since 1949, the dominant party in Germany has been the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). Along with its alliance member, the Christian Social Union of Bavaria (CSU), the CDU has consistently been the ruling party since its formation. The CDU’s sister party, the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), has also been prominent in the German political landscape.

Other parties that have been part of the political scene include the Free Democratic Party (FDP), the Green Party (Gruene) and the Left Party (Die Linke). In 2017, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) gained political acclaim, becoming the first far-right party to be elected to the Bundestag in over 30 years.

Structure

German political parties are organized according to federal (Flennesticher), state (Landesparlamente), and local (Gemeindeparlamente) legislation. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, established in 1950, ensures the right to freedom of assembly and the right to organize congresses, meetings and other public events.

The organization of party politics is also aided by internal rules, known as statutes. These statutes set out the general principles and rules of the parties’ activities, including roles and portfolios of party members, financial operations and reporting, election process, and communication between other political actors.

The Federal Return of Political Parties Election Expenses Law, passed in 2009, also regulates the funding of parties. According to the law, political parties must submit annual financial accounts and a breakdown of the funds received from the Electoral Fund.

Current State

The 2019 federal election saw the CDU/CSU alliance remain the largest party in the Bundestag, albeit by a much thinner margin than before. The SPD, FDP and AfD also increased their presence in the Bundestag, with the Green party and Left Party remaining quite stable.

Merkel’s subsequent appointment of Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, leader of the CDU, as German Chancellor in 2018 marked the emergence of a new era in German politics. This new era, however, is one that could potentially be characterized by further fragmentation, with the number of political parties currently at their highest since the First World War I.
Josh Bedford @ Unsplash

Interesting Question

Given the current landscape in German politics, what impact do multiple political parties have on the formation of public policy?

Conclusion

Germany has a long and rich history of political parties. From the dominance of the CDU and SPD to the emergence of the AfD and smaller political groups, German political parties are key players in the country’s politics, policy making and representation of their constituents.

The current landscape is marked by further fragmentation of the political scene, indicating that the impact of multiple parties may have more significant implications for German public policy in the near future.
Moritz Kindler @ Unsplash