Free Democratic Party (Germany)

The Free Democratic Party or Freie Demokratische Partei, short FDP (from 1968 to 2001 F.D.P.) is a political party in Germany. The party advocates for a more free market economy. Although they agree to some aspects of the German welfare state, they want to see a reduction in government spending and a movement to privatization.

 History 
Several liberal parties have existed in Germany since the 19th century.
The FDP was founded in West Germany in September 1945 in the state of Hamburg. It became member of the state parliament of Hamburg in its first election.
Similar liberal parties were founded in other German states, most of them successful in getting mandates.
In 1947, on March 17th, the Demokratische Partei Deutschlands (DPD) was founded as a whole-Germany liberal party by Theodor Heuss and Wilhelm Külz, but it broke down after a short while.

On 11 December 1948 the FDP was founded as a liberal party for West Germany.
Chief of the party was Theodor Heuss. The next important man was Thomas Dehler.

In its first years the main part of the party followed a national-liberal way. Liberal in the economical field, but very conserative in most other fields.
But in every state it had its own way.

The FDP was the smaller partner of the CDU under Konrad Adenauer. It was member of the West German government from 1949 to 1966.

In 1969 the FDP returned to government. But now the FDP was partner of the Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands under Willy Brandt, later Helmut Schmidt.

The party changed its values. Left-liberal positions were the leading ideas of the FDP at that time and included ideas like
civil rights and giving everyone the chance for a good education (guaranteed state stipendia, no more study fees, more higher education schools).

It changed again in 1982, when the government crashed on Schmidt and elected Helmut Kohl of the CDU as the new chancellor.
It became more and more a single issue party with its only interest in a low tax tariff - especially for high incomes.
It fought for study fees now and against social security. It secretary general said one day "We are the party of the best-incomes".

In 1998 it lost its power and became part of the parliamentary opposition.

In some state parliaments the FDP is still in power as junior partner of the CDU.

The party's unofficial motto is "So viel Staat wie nötig, so wenig Staat wie möglich!", meaning "as much state as necessary, as little state as possible!"

 Chairmen of the Free Democratic Party 
 Theodor Heuss 1948–1949
 Franz Blücher 1949–1954
 Thomas Dehler 1954–1957
 Reinhold Maier 1957–1960
 Erich Mende 1960–1968
 Walter Scheel 1968–1974
 Hans-Dietrich Genscher 1974–1985
 Martin Bangemann 1985–1988
 Otto Graf Lambsdorff 1988–1993
 Klaus Kinkel 1993–1995
 Wolfgang Gerhardt 1995–2001
 Guido Westerwelle 2001–2011
 Philipp Roesler 2011–2013
 Christian Lindner since 2013

 References 

 Other websites 
 Free Democratic Party (FDP) official site

Category:Free Democratic Party of Germany
Category:Liberal parties