Leader of the Opposition (Germany)

The Leader of the Opposition in Germany is the parliamentary leader of the largest political party in the Bundestag that is not in government.

List of opposition leaders in Germany since 1949 (Federal Republic of Germany)

  Image Name Party Term of officeChancellor Took office Left office Term Length 1 65px Kurt Schumacher Social Democratic Party(SPD) 7 September 1949 20 August 1952 Konrad Adenauer 2 65px Erich Ollenhauer Social Democratic Party(SPD) 27 September 1952 14 December 1963 Konrad AdenauerLudwig Erhard 3 65px Fritz Erler Social Democratic Party(SPD) 1963 1966 Ludwig Erhard 4 65px Knut Freiherr von Kühlmann-Stumm Free Democratic Party(FDP) 1 December 1966 23 January 1968 Kurt Georg Kiesinger 5 65px Wolfgang Mischnick Free Democratic Party(FDP) 23 January 1968 22 November 1969  Kurt Georg Kiesinger 6 65px Rainer Barzel Christian Democratic Union(CDU) 22 November 1969 17 May 1973  Willy Brandt 7 65px Karl Carstens Christian Democratic Union(CDU) 17 May 1973 13 September 1976  Willy BrandtHelmut Schmidt 8 65px Helmut Kohl Christian Democratic Union(CDU) 13 September 1976 1 October 1982  Helmut Schmidt 9 65px Herbert Wehner Social Democratic Party(SPD) 1 October 1982 8 March 1983  Helmut Kohl 10 65px Hans-Jochen Vogel Social Democratic Party(SPD) 8 March 1983 12 November 1991   Helmut Kohl 11 65px Hans-Ulrich Klose Social Democratic Party(SPD) 12 November 1991 10 November 1994  Helmut Kohl 12 65px Rudolf Scharping Social Democratic Party(SPD) 10 November 1994 27 October 1998  Helmut Kohl 13 65px Wolfgang Schäuble Christian Democratic Union(CDU) 27 October 1998 29 February 2000  Gerhard Schröder 14 65px Friedrich Merz Christian Democratic Union(CDU) 29 February 2000 22 September 2002  Gerhard Schröder 15 65px Angela Merkel Christian Democratic Union(CDU) 22 September 2002 22 November 2005  Gerhard Schröder 16 65px Wolfgang Gerhardt Free Democratic Party(FDP) 22 November 2005 1 May 2006  Angela Merkel 17 65px Guido Westerwelle Free Democratic Party(FDP) 1 May 2006 28 October 2009  Angela Merkel 18 65px Frank-Walter Steinmeier Social Democratic Party(SPD) 28 October 2009 16 December 2013  Angela Merkel 19 65px Joachim PoßFrank-Walter Steinmeier donated one of his kidneys to his end-stage kidney disease-stricken wife in August 2010. From 23 August to 26 October 2010, where he recovered from the procedure, senior SPD Bundestag member Joachim Poß served as interim Bundestag leader in his absence. Social Democratic Party(SPD) 23 August 2010 26 October 2010  Angela Merkel 20 65px Gregor Gysi The Left 17 December 2013 12 October 2015  Angela Merkel 21 65px Dietmar BartschSahra Wagenknecht The Left 12 October 2015 24 October 2017  Angela Merkel 22 65px Alexander GaulandAlice Weidel Alternative for Germany(AfD) 24 October 2017 26 October 2021  Angela Merkel 23 65px Ralph Brinkhaus Christian Democratic Union(CDU) 8 December 2021 15 February 2022  Olaf Scholz 24(14) 65px Friedrich Merz Christian Democratic Union(CDU) 15 February 2022 6 May 2025 3 years, 80 days Olaf Scholz 25/(22) - Tino ChrupallaAlice Weidel Alternative for Germany(AfD) 6 May 2025   Friedrich Merz

References
Category:Lists of Leaders of the Opposition
Category:Lists of German politicians
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