Free Democratic Party (Germany) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Free Democratic Party Freie Demokratische Partei
Abbreviation	FDP
Chairman	Christian Lindner
General Secretary	Bijan Djir-Sarai
Parliamentary leader	Christian Dürr
Founded	12 December 1948; 76 years ago (1948-12-12)
Merger of	Democratic Party of Germany Democratic People's Party
Headquarters	Hans-Dietrich-Genscher-Haus{br /}Reinhardtstraße 14{br /}10117 Berlin
Newspaper	fdplus
Youth wing	Young Liberals
Women's wing	Liberal Women
LGBT wing	Liberal Gay, Lesbians, Bi, Trans and Queer
University wing	Federal Associations of Liberal College Groups
Foundation	Friedrich Naumann Foundation
Membership (March 2024)	72,000 est.
Ideology	Liberalism (German)
Political position	Centre-right
European affiliation	Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
International affiliation	Liberal International
European Parliament group	Renew Europe
Colours	Yellow      Pink      Cyan
Bundestag	91 / 735
Bundesrat	2 / 69
State Parliaments	67 / 1,894
European Parliament	5 / 96
Party flag
Politics of Germany Political parties

The Free Democratic Party (FDP) is a liberal political party in Germany. It believes in individual freedom and less government control.

The FDP was started in 1948 by people from older liberal parties that existed before World War II. For much of the second half of the 20th century, especially from 1961 to 1982, the FDP often helped decide which parties would form the government in the Bundestag (Germany's parliament). It has worked with both the CDU/CSU (a center-right group) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD, a center-left party).

In the 2013 election, the FDP didn't get enough votes to be in the Bundestag, which was a first for the party. But in the 2017 election, they got back into parliament. After the 2021 election, the FDP joined a government with the SPD and the Greens.

Since the 1980s, the FDP has focused on economic liberalism, which means they support free markets and privatization. They are generally seen as a center-right party. The FDP is part of international liberal groups like the Liberal International and Renew Europe.

Party History

Early Liberal Parties in Germany

The idea of liberal parties in Germany goes back to 1861. Back then, the German Progress Party was founded. Before 1933, liberal groups were split into two main types: "national-liberal" and "left-liberal." After 1918, the German People's Party (DVP) represented the national-liberal side, and the German Democratic Party (DDP) represented the left-liberal side. Both parties were important in the government during the Weimar Republic. However, they lost support as the Nazi Party grew. After the Nazis took power, both liberal parties dissolved themselves.

After World War II, new liberal parties started to form. In the Soviet-controlled part of Germany, the Liberal-Democratic Party (LDP) was created. In the Western parts, groups like the Party of Free Democrats (PFD) and the Democratic People's Party (DVP) emerged. Many liberals wanted to unite these groups into one strong liberal party.

FDP is Founded

Theodor Heuss, the first chairman of the FDP and first President of West Germany

The Free Democratic Party (FDP) was officially formed on December 11–12, 1948, in Heppenheim, Hesse. It brought together 13 liberal parties from the Western parts of Germany. The leaders chose Heppenheim because it was where moderate liberals had met in 1847 to prepare for the German revolutions.

The FDP was created by combining parts of the old German People's Party and the German Democratic Party. These parties had been active before 1933.

Germany's Reconstruction (1949–1969)

In the first election for the Bundestag in 1949, the FDP won 11.9% of the votes and 52 seats. They joined a government with the CDU/CSU and the German Party. The FDP's first chairman, Theodor Heuss, became the first President of West Germany.

The FDP agreed with their partners on many big issues like the economy and social matters. They also appealed to voters who wanted a non-religious party. The FDP was known for supporting a market economy.

In the 1950s, some parts of the FDP were more conservative than the CDU/CSU. They even tried to help former officials from the Nazi era rejoin society. For example, the FDP voted against a law to remove former Nazis from public life. However, over time, the more extreme views within the party lost influence.

In the 1961 election, the FDP had its best result at the time, getting 12.8% of the votes. They again formed a government with the CDU. Later, in 1966, this government broke apart over tax issues. A new government was formed between the CDU and the SPD. The FDP then became an opposition party.

In 1968, Walter Scheel became the new FDP chairman. He wanted the FDP to be able to work with both major parties. The FDP started to change its views on foreign policy, especially regarding East Germany, which brought them closer to the SPD.

Social Changes and Crises (1969–1982)

Walter Scheel served as Foreign Minister, Vice Chancellor, Acting Chancellor and President of Germany.

In 1969, the FDP formed a government with the SPD, led by Chancellor Willy Brandt. Walter Scheel became Foreign Minister and Vice Chancellor. This government started a new foreign policy towards Eastern Europe, which was quite debated.

In 1971, the FDP published the "Freiburg Thesis," which supported "social liberalism" and social reforms, including environmental protection. Walter Scheel later became the second liberal President of Germany in 1974. Hans-Dietrich Genscher then took over as the FDP's leader.

From 1969 to 1974, the FDP supported SPD Chancellor Willy Brandt, and then Helmut Schmidt. By the late 1970s, the FDP and SPD started to disagree more, especially on economic issues.

Kohl Government and Reunification (1982–1998)

In 1982, the FDP changed its mind and left its government with the SPD. Instead, they supported the CDU/CSU. On October 1, the FDP and CDU/CSU removed Chancellor Schmidt and replaced him with Helmut Kohl (CDU). This change caused a lot of arguments within the FDP, and they lost about 20% of their members.

In 1980, some FDP members who disagreed with the youth organization founded the Young Liberals (JuLis). By 1983, the JuLis became the only official youth group of the FDP.

When Germany was reunified in 1990, the FDP joined with liberal groups from East Germany. This brought a lot of new members to the FDP, though this increase was short-lived. In the first all-German election, the CDU/CSU/FDP government was re-elected. The FDP got 11% of the votes.

During the 1990s, the FDP usually got between 6.2% and 11% of the votes in federal elections. They were the junior partner in Chancellor Helmut Kohl's government until 1998.

Back in Opposition (1998–2009)

In 1998, the CDU/CSU-FDP government lost the federal election, ending the FDP's long time in power. From 1998 to 2009, the FDP was in the opposition.

In the 2005 election, the FDP won 9.8% of the votes. Many people thought this was because some CDU/CSU supporters voted for the FDP, hoping for more market-friendly economic changes. However, the CDU/CSU didn't do as well as expected, so the FDP couldn't form a government with them.

The FDP was considered for other governments, like a "traffic light coalition" with the SPD and Greens (named after their party colors). But the FDP felt the SPD and Greens didn't support market reforms enough. Another idea was a "Jamaica coalition" with the CDU and Greens. This also didn't happen. So, the CDU formed a "Grand Coalition" with the SPD, and the FDP remained in opposition. FDP leader Guido Westerwelle became the unofficial leader of the opposition.

Merkel II Government (2009–2013)

Christian Lindner is the party chairman, having succeeded Philipp Rösler in December 2013.

In the September 2009 election, the FDP had its best result ever, getting 14.6% of the votes. This allowed them to form a government with the CDU/CSU. FDP leader Westerwelle said his party would work for civil liberties, a fair tax system, and better education.

However, after this record result, the FDP's support quickly dropped. Their policy promises were put on hold because of the economic crisis. By the end of 2010, their support was as low as 5%. The FDP lost seats in many state elections because they couldn't get over the 5% threshold needed to enter parliament.

Westerwelle stepped down as party leader in 2011 and was replaced by Philipp Rösler. But this change didn't help the FDP's popularity.

2013 Federal Election and After

In the 2013 election, the FDP got just under 5% of the votes. Since they didn't win any direct seats, they were out of the Bundestag for the first time since 1949. After this, Philipp Rösler resigned, and Christian Lindner became the new party leader.

In the 2014 European Parliament elections, the FDP received 3.4% of the votes and won 3 seats. They also lost all their seats in several state parliaments that year.

Recent Years (2015–Present)

The FDP managed to get back into some state parliaments in the following years, like Bremen in 2015 and Baden-Württemberg in 2016. In the 2017 North Rhine-Westphalia election, the party did very well, which was seen as a good sign for their future.

In the 2017 federal election, the FDP got 10.7% of the votes and re-entered the Bundestag with 80 seats. They considered forming a "Jamaica coalition" with the CDU and Greens. However, FDP leader Christian Lindner ended the talks because of disagreements on migration policy. He said, "It is better not to govern than to govern badly." As a result, the CDU/CSU formed another "grand coalition" with the SPD.

In the 2019 European election, the FDP won 5.4% of the votes and 5 seats.

In the September 2021 federal election, the FDP's votes and seats increased to 11.5% and 92 seats. After the CDU/CSU lost, the SPD, Greens, and FDP started talks to form a "traffic light coalition." They agreed on November 24, and the FDP now holds four important government ministries.

However, in 2022 and 2023, the FDP's support in state elections dropped again. They lost all their seats in several state parliaments. In November 2024, Christian Lindner was removed from his position as Minister of Finance. This led to the collapse of the "traffic light" government.

What the FDP Believes In

Membership development showing the spike around 1990 due to East German LDPD and NDPD fusing with the (West German) FDP

The FDP is generally seen as a centrist or center-right party. It is described as liberal, classical-liberal, and conservative-liberal.

The FDP is mainly a classical-liberal party. This means they support free market economic policies and want less government involvement in people's lives. During elections, they often promise tax cuts, less government spending, and balanced budgets. Some people also call the party neoliberal.

Experts say the FDP is closer to the CDU/CSU on economic issues. But they are closer to the SPD and Greens on topics like civil liberties, education, and foreign policy. The FDP tries to be a middle ground between the CDU and SPD. However, they are more right-leaning than the CDU on economic, environmental, and labor policies.

The party has a history of supporting ordoliberalism, which is an economic idea that emphasizes a strong legal framework for the market economy but limited direct government intervention. In 1971, the FDP moved towards "social liberalism" and supported environmental protection. But later, in 1977 and 1985, they returned to their traditional free-market approach. The FDP has different groups within it, including those who are more social-liberal and those who are more conservative.

During the 2017 election, the FDP suggested Germany should use a Canada-style system for immigration, where people get points for skills. They also wanted to spend more on defense, get rid of a special tax for German reunification, cut other taxes, and improve roads. They suggested selling government shares in companies like Deutsche Bahn to pay for this. The FDP also wanted to improve digital infrastructure and invest more in education. They support allowing dual citizenship, unlike the CDU/CSU.

The FDP has mixed views on European integration. In 2009, they supported making the European Union (EU) more transparent and less bureaucratic. In 2019, they called for more EU reforms, like reducing the number of EU Commissioners. They want both "more and less Europe."

Who Votes for the FDP

In the 1940s and 1950s, the FDP was the only German party strongly for a market economy. The CDU/CSU at that time still had some ideas of a "third way" between capitalism and socialism.

Historically, most FDP members have been men. In 1995, less than one-third of the members were women. The party usually gets support from professionals and people who own their own businesses. They don't have a specific group of voters, like trade union members for the SPD or church members for the CDU/CSU. So, they have a smaller group of "core voters" who always vote for them.

In the 2021 elections, the FDP was the second most popular party among voters under 30. The Greens were first, then the FDP, followed by the SPD. Young, city-dwelling professionals often vote for both the FDP and the Greens.

European Representation

In the European Parliament, the Free Democratic Party is part of the Renew Europe group and has five members.

In the European Committee of the Regions, the FDP is part of the Renew Europe CoR group.

Election Results

Federal Parliament (Bundestag)

Here are the results for the FDP in elections to the federal Bundestag.

Election	Leader	Constituency		Party list		Seats	+/–	Status
		Votes	%	Votes	%
1949	Franz Blücher			2,829,920	11.9 (#3)	52 / 410		CDU/CSU–FDP–DP
1953		2,967,566	10.8 (#3)	2,629,163	9.5 (#3)	53 / 509	1	CDU/CSU–FDP–DP
1957	Reinhold Maier	2,276,234	7.5 (#4)	2,307,135	7.7 (#4)	43 / 519	10	Opposition
1961	Erich Mende	3,866,269	12.1 (#3)	4,028,766	12.8 (#3)	67 / 521	24	CDU/CSU–FDP
1965		2,562,294	7.9 (#4)	3,096,739	9.5 (#4)	50 / 518	17	CDU/CSU–FDP (1965–66)
								Opposition (1966–69)
1969	Walter Scheel	1,554,651	4.8 (#4)	1,903,422	5.8 (#4)	31 / 518	19	SPD–FDP
1972		1,790,513	4.8 (#4)	3,129,982	8.4 (#4)	42 / 518	11	SPD–FDP
1976	Hans-Dietrich Genscher	2,417,683	6.4 (#4)	2,995,085	7.9 (#4)	40 / 518	2	SPD–FDP
1980		2,720,480	7.2 (#4)	4,030,999	10.6 (#3)	54 / 519	14	SPD–FDP (1980–82)
								CDU/CSU–FDP (1982–83)
1983		1,087,918	2.8 (#5)	2,706,942	6.9 (#4)	35 / 520	19	CDU/CSU–FDP
1987	Martin Bangemann	1,760,496	4.7 (#5)	3,440,911	9.1 (#4)	48 / 519	13	CDU/CSU–FDP
1990	Otto Graf Lambsdorff	3,595,135	7.8 (#3)	5,123,233	11.0 (#3)	79 / 662	31	CDU/CSU–FDP
1994	Klaus Kinkel	1,558,185	3.3 (#6)	3,258,407	6.9 (#5)	47 / 672	32	CDU/CSU–FDP
1998	Wolfgang Gerhardt	1,486,433	3.0 (#6)	3,080,955	6.2 (#5)	43 / 669	4	Opposition
2002	Guido Westerwelle	2,752,796	5.8 (#4)	3,538,815	7.4 (#5)	47 / 603	4	Opposition
2005		2,208,531	4.7 (#6)	4,648,144	9.8 (#3)	61 / 614	14	Opposition
2009		4,076,496	9.4 (#4)	6,316,080	14.6 (#3)	93 / 622	32	CDU/CSU–FDP
2013	Philipp Rösler	1,028,645	2.4 (#6)	2,083,533	4.8 (#6)	0 / 631	93	Extra-parliamentary
2017	Christian Lindner	3,249,238	7.0 (#7)	4,997,178	10.7 (#4)	80 / 709	80	Opposition
2021		4,040,783	8.7 (#5)	5,316,698	11.4 (#4)	91 / 735	11	SPD–Greens–FDP

European Parliament

Here are the FDP's results in elections to the European Parliament.

Election	Votes	%	Seats	+/–	EP Group
1979	1,662,621	5.97 (#4)	4 / 81	New	LD
1984	1,192,624	4.80 (#5)	0 / 81	4	–
1989	1,576,715	5.59 (#6)	4 / 81	4	LDR
1994	1,442,857	4.07 (#6)	0 / 99	4	–
1999	820,371	3.03 (#6)	0 / 99	0
2004	1,565,431	6.07 (#6)	7 / 99	7	ALDE
2009	2,888,084	10.97 (#4)	12 / 99	5
2014	986,253	3.36 (#7)	3 / 96	9
2019	2,028,353	5.42 (#7)	5 / 96	2	RE
2024	2,060,457	5.18 (#7)	5 / 96	0

State Parliaments

Here are the FDP's results in elections to the state parliaments across Germany.

State parliament	Election	Votes	%	Seats	+/–	Status
Baden-Württemberg	2021	508,278	10.5 (#4)	18 / 154	6	Opposition
Bremen	2023	64,155	5.1 (#6)	5 / 84	0	Opposition
Bavaria	2023	413,595	3.0 (#6)	0 / 205	11	No seats
Berlin	2023	70,416	4.6 (#6)	0 / 147	12	No seats
Brandenburg	2024	12,462	0.8 (#10)	0 / 88	0	No seats
Hamburg	2020	199,263	4.9 (#6)	1 / 123	8	Opposition
Hesse	2023	141,608	5.0 (#5)	8 / 137	3	Opposition
Lower Saxony	2022	170,298	4.7 (#5)	0 / 146	11	No seats
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern	2021	52,945	5.8 (#6)	5 / 79	5	Opposition
North Rhine-Westphalia	2022	418,460	5.9 (#4)	12 / 195	16	Opposition
Rhineland-Palatinate	2021	106,835	5.5 (#5)	6 / 101	1	SPD–Greens–FDP
Saarland	2022	21,618	4.8 (#5)	0 / 51	0	No seats
Saxony	2024	20,995	0.9 (#10)	0 / 119	0	No seats
Saxony-Anhalt	2021	68,277	6.4 (#5)	7 / 97	7	CDU–SPD–FDP
Schleswig-Holstein	2022	88,613	6.4 (#4)	5 / 69	4	Opposition
Thuringia	2024	13,582	1.1 (#7)	0 / 90	5	No seats

Party Leaders

FDP Chairmen

FDP Leaders in the Bundestag

Hans-Dietrich Genscher served almost continuously as Foreign Minister and Vice Chancellor from 1974 to 1992.

Wolfgang Gerhardt

Images for kids

• 

  An FDP election poster from 1949.

• 

  The FDP logo used from 2001 to 2014.

• 

  Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, who served as Vice President of the European Parliament.

• 

  Werner Klumpp, who was interim Minister-President of the Saarland in 1979.

See also

In Spanish: Partido Democrático Libre para niños

• Federal Association of Liberal Students Groups
• Franz Xaver Kappus
• Liberalism in Germany
• List of political parties in Germany
• Politics of Germany