Parties and political foundations in Germany
Go to this portals to find out more about the programs and the issues of all the political parties and their factions currently representing the citizens of Germany. With just one click you can also access the pages of the party-affiliated foundations.
The Green Party (BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN)
In the west since 1980, in the east since 1990, and presenting a united front since 1992: the Green Party (BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN) emerged from West German nature conservation lists and dissident groups in the German Democratic Republic at the time when the regime had already begun to disintegrate.
German Christian Democratic Party (CDU)
The German Christian Democratic Party (CDU) was the party from which Konrad Adenauer, the first Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, came. As a People’s Party, the CDU has played a major role on the political scene in Germany since its founding in 1945. Together with its sister party, the Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU), the CDU has been one of traditional political parties in parliament ever since.
Christian-Social Union of Bavaria (CSU)
The Christian-Social Union of Bavaria (CSU) was first formed in 1945 following the end of the Second World War as a movement of conservative forces to counteract the socialist movements. The CSU runs for election only in Bavaria and is traditionally the strongest political party there. In 1949, the CSU joined forces with its sister party, the CDU, as a joint parliamentary party.
Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD)
The history of the German workers’ movement and of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) goes back to the German Revolution of 1848; the party has been known by its current name since 1890. It is one of the two major German political parties and stands for the vision of a free, just and solidly united society.
The Left
DIE LINKE. (THE LEFT) was formed on June 16, 2007 from the successor of the former East German state party and the party for “Work and Social Justice – The Election Alternative” (Arbeit und soziale Gerechtigkeit – Die Wahlalternative – WASG). The party members place a special focus on “democratic socialism” in their political program.
Free Democratic Party (FDP)
The Free Democratic Party (FDP – Freie Demokratische Partei) was first formed in 1948 as Germany’s liberal party, with Theodor Heuss as the first party chairman. The party‘s political platform focuses on the personal freedom of the citizens and market liberalism.
Alternative for Germany (AfD)
Alternative for Germany (German: Alternative für Deutschland, AfD) is a political party in Germany. Founded in April 2013.
Friedrich Ebert Foundation
Freedom, justice and solidarity: the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, FES) is committed to the fundamental values of social democracy. It was founded in 1925 after the death of the first elected president of Germany, Friedrich Ebert, and banned by the Nazis in 1933. Since 1947 it has promoted democratic consciousness.
Friedrich Naumann Foundation
“Tomorrow’s liberal elites can be found at universities around the world”, is the motto of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, associated with the FDP (Free Democratic Party). Material and moral support is given to gifted up-and-coming academics in the form of seminars and other opportunities for further education.
Hanns Seidel Foundation
The institution named after former Bavarian minister-president and CSU chairman Hanns Seidel has been active in political education since 1967.
Heinrich Böll Foundation
The Heinrich Böll Foundation is a political foundation based in Berlin and associated with the party Alliance 90/The Greens (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen). It includes 16 regional foundations and foreign offices on almost every continent. The foundation’s cultural grants go mainly to writers and visual artists, while the “Scholarships” support students and researchers of all disciplines and nations who contribute to the focal themes of the foundation – such as development policy and projects assisting women.
Konrad Adenauer Foundation
The Konrad-Adenauer Foundation (KAS – Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung) has borne the name of the first chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany since 1964. Prior to that, the foundation was called the “Society for Christian-Democratic Education” and was originally founded in 1955. The foundation, which maintains close ties with the CDU (Christian-Democratic Union – one of the major political parties in Germany), works as an agency for political advising and education throughout Germany and the world.
Rosa Luxemburg Foundation
The Foundation named in honor of the theorist and famous politician, Rosa Luxemburg (1871–1919), is closely associated with the DIE LINKE (The Left) party. As a nationally and internationally active institution for political education, the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation (RLS) provides, among other things, a forum for the dialog between leftwing socialist forces. The RLS has its headquarters in Berlin.
