Citizendia

"SPD" redirects here. For other uses, see SPD (disambiguation).
Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands
SPD logo
Leader Kurt Beck
Founded May 23, 1863 (ADAV)
August 7, 1869 (SDAP)
Headquarters Willy Brandt-Haus
D-10911 Berlin
Political Ideology Social democracy,
Democratic socialism
International Affiliation Socialist International
European Affiliation Party of European Socialists
European Parliament Group PES
Colours Red
Website http://www.spd.de
See also Politics of Germany

Political parties
Elections

The Social Democratic Party of Germany (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands — SPD) is Germany's oldest political party and its largest in terms of membership. Kurt Beck (born February 5, 1949) is a German Politician ( SPD) serving as the Minister President of the German federal Events 1430 - Siege of Compiègne: Joan of Arc is captured by the Burgundians while leading an army to relieve Compiègne Year 1863 ( MDCCCLXIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The General German Workers' Association, in German Allgemeiner Deutscher Arbeiterverein, ADAV was founded on 23 May 1863 by Ferdinand Lassalle Events 322 BC - Battle of Crannon between Athens and Macedon following the death of Alexander the Great. Year 1869 ( MDCCCLXIX) is a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year The Social Democratic Workers' Party of Germany, in German Sozialdemokratische Arbeiterpartei Deutschlands, SDAP was a German left-wing political Willy Brandt, born Herbert Ernst Karl Frahm (18 December 1913 - 8 October 1992 was a German politician Chancellor of West Germany 1969&ndash1974 Berlin is the capital city and one of sixteen states of Germany. Social democracy is a Political ideology of the left and centre-left Democratic socialism is a description used by various socialist movements tendencies and organizations to emphasize the democratic character of their political orientation Socialist International is a worldwide organization of socialist ( social democratic and labour) political parties The Party of European Socialists (PES is a European political party comprising of thirty-three socialist, social democratic and labour The Party of European Socialists (PES is a European political party comprising of thirty-three socialist, social democratic and labour Red is any of a number of similar Colors evoked by light consisting predominantly of the longest wavelengths of Light discernible by the human eye in the wavelength Politics of Germany takes place in a framework of a federal parliamentary representative democratic Republic, whereby the Federal Chancellor This is a list of political parties in Germany. Germany has a Multi-party system with two large parties three substantial smaller parties and a number of minor The following information deals with elections in Germany, including elections to the Federal Diet (the lower house of the federal parliament the Landtags After World War II, under the leadership of Kurt Schumacher, the SPD reestablished itself as an ideological party, representing the interests of the working class and the trade unions. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Dr Kurt Schumacher (13 October 1895 - 20 August 1952 was the leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany from 1945 to 1952 Working class is a term used in academic Sociology and in ordinary conversation to describe depending on context and speaker those employed in specific fields or types A trade union or labour union is an organization of workers who have banded together to achieve common goals in key areas such as wages hours and working conditions forming The party's program, which espoused Marxist principles, called for the nationalisation of major industries and state planning.

Today the SPD advocates the modernisation of the economy to meet the demands of globalisation, but it also stresses the need to address the social needs of workers and society's disadvantaged.

Contents

Base of support

Social structure

Before World War II, as the main non-revolutionary left-wing party, the Social Democrats fared best among non-Catholic workers as well as intellectuals favoring socially progressive causes and increased economic equality. Led by Kurt Schumacher after the war, the SPD became more centrist in an effort to appeal to a broader range of potential voters. Dr Kurt Schumacher (13 October 1895 - 20 August 1952 was the leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany from 1945 to 1952 It is however still connected with the economic causes of unionized employees and lower middle-class voters.

Geographic distribution

Geographically, much of their support nowadays comes from large cities, especially of northern and western Germany. The city cluster of the Ruhr Area, where coal mining and steel production were once mainstays, have in the past provided a significant base for the SPD, and in the state of Bremen, made up of the cities of Bremen and Bremerhaven, they have governed without interruption or much of a challenge since 1945. The Ruhr Area, ( German Ruhrgebiet, colloquial Ruhrpott, Kohlenpott or Revier) is an Urban area in North Rhine-Westphalia Coal mining is the extraction or removal of Coal from the Earth by Mining. Steel is an Alloy consisting mostly of Iron, with a Carbon content between 0 The Free Hanseatic City of Bremen (German Freie Hansestadt Bremen) is the smallest of Germany's 16 Federal States ( Bundesländer) Bremen (ˈbʁeːmən is a Hanseatic city in northwestern Germany (official name Stadtgemeinde Bremen / City Municipality of Bremen Bremerhaven (bʁeːmɐˈhaːfən is the seaport of the free city and federal state of Bremen, Germany. In far southern Germany, the SPD typically has a hard time competing in all but the largest cities. One Munich constituency is currently, and only by a narrow edge, the only SPD-held district in the entire state of Bavaria. Munich (München; Minga is the capital city of Bavaria, Germany. Bavaria ( German:, with an area of 70553 Km² (27241 square miles and almost 12 Small town and rural support comes especially from traditionally Protestant areas of northern Germany (with notable exceptions such as Western Pomerania, from where conservative Angela Merkel was handily re-elected in 2005) and a number of university towns. Western Pomerania is a translation of "Vorpommern" (also "Hither Pomerania" both redirect here (ˈaŋɡela doʁoˈteːa ˈmɛɐ̯kəl (born Angela Dorothea Kasner, 17 July 1954 in Hamburg, West Germany) is the Chancellor of Germany. A striking example of the general pattern is the traditionally Catholic Emsland, where the Social Democrats are generally not competitive, whereas the Protestant region of East Frisia directly to the north is one of their strongest constituencies. Landkreis Emsland is a district in Lower Saxony, Germany named after the river Ems. East Frisia or Eastern Friesland ( Low Saxon: Oostfreesland, German Ostfriesland) is a coastal region in the northwest of the Further south, the SPD also enjoys solid support in northern Hesse (Hans Eichel was mayor of Kassel, then Hesse's minister president, then finance minister in the Schröder administration, Brigitte Zypries serves as Justice Minister), parts of Palatinate (Kurt Beck is currently party leader), the Saarland (political home of one-time candidate for federal chancellor Oskar Lafontaine, who later defected), and southwestern Baden (Marion Caspers-Merk, Gernot Erler). Hesse (Hessen is a state of Germany with an area Hans Eichel (born December 24, 1941) German politician ( SPD) was Minister of Finance from 1999-2005 Kassel (until 1926 officially Cassel) is a city situated along the Fulda River in northern Hessen, Germany, one of the two sources of the ˌɡeɐ̯haɐ̯t fʁɪʦ kʊɐ̯t ˈʃʁøːdɐ (born 7 April 1944 German politician, was Chancellor of Germany from 1998 to 2005 Brigitte Zypries (born November 16, 1953, in Kassel, Germany) is a German Politician. The Palatinate (Pfalz Pfälzer dialect Palz) historically also Rhenish Palatinate (palatinatum Renensis Rheinpfalz is a region in south-western Germany Kurt Beck (born February 5, 1949) is a German Politician ( SPD) serving as the Minister President of the German federal Saarland (ˈzaːɐ̯lant in German; French: Sarre) is one of the 16 federal states (German Bundesländer) of Germany. Oskar Lafontaine (ˈlafɔntɛn born September 16, 1943 in Saarlouis -Roden is a German Politician, former German finance minister Baden is a historical state in the southwest of Germany, on the right bank of the Rhine. Marion Caspers-Merk (born April 24, 1955 in Mannheim) is a German Politician and member of the SPD.

History

Pre-republic (1863 - 1918)

The party considers itself to have been founded on May 23, 1863, by Ferdinand Lassalle under the name Allgemeiner Deutscher Arbeiterverein (ADAV, General German Workers' Association). Events 1430 - Siege of Compiègne: Joan of Arc is captured by the Burgundians while leading an army to relieve Compiègne Year 1863 ( MDCCCLXIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Ferdinand Lassalle (11 April 1825 &mdash 31 August 1864 was a German Jurist and socialist political Activist. The General German Workers' Association, in German Allgemeiner Deutscher Arbeiterverein, ADAV was founded on 23 May 1863 by Ferdinand Lassalle In 1869, August Bebel and Wilhelm Liebknecht founded the Sozialdemokratische Arbeiterpartei (SDAP, Social Democratic Workers' Party of Germany), which merged with the ADAV at a conference held in Gotha in 1875, taking the name Socialist Workers' Party of Germany (SAPD). August Ferdinand Bebel ( February 22 1840 &ndash August 13 1913) was a German social democrat and one of the founders of the Wilhelm Liebknecht ( March 29, 1826 &ndash August 7, 1900) was a German Social democrat, one of the founders of the The Social Democratic Workers' Party of Germany, in German Sozialdemokratische Arbeiterpartei Deutschlands, SDAP was a German left-wing political At this conference, the party developed the Gotha Program which Karl Marx would come to criticize in his Critique of the Gotha Program. The Critique of the Gotha Program is a document based on a letter by Karl Marx written in early May 1875 to the Eisenach faction of Through the Anti-Socialist Laws, Otto von Bismarck had the party outlawed for its pro-revolution, anti-monarchy sentiments in 1878; but in 1890 it was legalized again. The Anti-Socialist Laws or Socialist Laws ( German: Sozialistengesetze; officially Gesetz gegen die gemeingefährlichen Bestrebungen der Sozialdemokratie Otto Eduard Leopold von Bismarck Count of Bismarck-Schönhausen Duke of Lauenburg Prince of Bismarck ( April 1, 1815 July 30, 1898) That same year it changed its name to Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands (SPD), as it is known to this day. As social democrats could be elected as list-free candidates while the party was outlawed, it had continued to be a growing force in the parliament, becoming the strongest party in 1912 (in imperial Germany, the parliamentary balance of forces had no influence on the formation of the cabinet). As a reaction to the prosecution, the Erfurt Program of 1891 was more radical than the Gotha Program of 1875, demanding socialisation of Germany's major industries; still, the revisionism of Bernstein and the increasing loyalty of the party establishment towards Emperor and Reich, coupled with its antipathy toward Tsarist Russia, made it possible that the party under Bebel's successor Friedrich Ebert supported the war credits. The Erfurt Program was adopted by the Social Democratic Party of Germany during the SPD congress at Erfurt in 1891. Nationalization, also spelled nationalisation, is the act of taking an industry or assets into the Public ownership of a national government Eduard Bernstein ( January 6 1850 December 18 1932) was a German social democratic theoretician and The Tsardom of Rus' (Царство Русское was the official name for the Russian state between Ivan IV 's assumption of the title of Tsar (Emperor in 1547 Friedrich Ebert ( February 4, 1871 February 28, 1925) was a German Politician ( SPD) who served as

Interestingly, also Bernstein left the party during the first world war, as well as Karl Kautsky who had played an important role as the leading Marxist theoretician and editor of the theoretical journal of SPD, "Die Neue Zeit". Eduard Bernstein ( January 6 1850 December 18 1932) was a German social democratic theoretician and Karl Kautsky ( October 16 1854 - October 17 1938) was a leading theoretician of Social democracy. Marxism is the political philosophy and practice derived from the work of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Die Neue Zeit ("The New Times" was a German socialist theoretical journal of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD that was Both did not join the Communist party after the war, but came back to the SPD in the early Twenties. From 1915 on the theoretical discussions within the SPD were instead dominated by a group of former anti-revisionist Marxists, who tried to legitimize the support of the First World War by the German SPD group in the Reichstag with Marxist argumentation. Instead of the class struggle they proclaimed the struggle of peoples and developed much of the rhetoric later used by Nazi propaganda ("Volksgemeinschaft" etc. ). The group was lead by Heinrich Cunow, Paul Lensch and Konrad Haenisch ("Lensch-Cunow-Haenisch-Gruppe") and was close to the Russian-German revolutionary and social scientist Parvus, who gave a public forum to the group with his journal "Die Glocke". Heinrich Cunow ( 11 April 1862 - 20 August 1936) was a German Social Democratic Party politician and a Marxist Paul Lensch (31 March 1873 - 18 November 1926 was a German Social Democratic Party politician Konrad Haenisch ( 13 March, 1876 - 28 April, 1925) was a German Social Democratic Party politician and part of "the Alexander Parvus (Александр Парвус ( in Berezin, Russian Empire (now in Belarus)&ndash December 12, 1924 in Via the academic teacher of Kurt Schumacher, Professor Johann Plenge, and Schumacher himself there is a group to the current right-wing "Seeheimer Kreis" within the SPD, which was founded by Annemarie Renger, Schumachers former secretary. Dr Kurt Schumacher (13 October 1895 - 20 August 1952 was the leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany from 1945 to 1952 Johann Plenge (June 7 1874 - 11 September 1963 was a German sociologist. Annemarie Renger ( October 7, 1919 &ndash March 3, 2008) (born Annemarie Wildung was a German politician and the first

Those who were against the war were expelled from the SPD in January 1917 (including Rosa Luxemburg, Karl Liebknecht, Hugo Haase. Rosa Luxemburg (Róża Luksemburg 5 March 1870 or 1871 15 January 1919 was a Polish-born Jewish German Marxist theorist, socialist ( August 13, 1871 - January 15, 1919) was a German Socialist and a co-founder of the Spartacist League and the Communist Hugo Haase ( September 29, 1863 – November 7, 1919) was a German politician Jurist and Pacifist. . . ), and founded the Independent Social Democratic Party of Germany, in which the Spartacist League was a current. The Independent Social Democratic Party of Germany ( Unabhängige Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands, or USPD) was a short-lived Political party The Spartacist League ( Spartakusbund in German) was a left-wing Marxist revolutionary movement organized in Germany

In the 1918 revolution, Ebert sided with the Imperial Army command against communists, while the Reichstag elected him as head of the new government. The Reichswehr ( German for "National Defence" formed the military organisation of Germany from 1919 until 1935 when it was The Reichstag ( German for "Imperial Diet " was the Parliament of the Holy Roman Empire, the North German Confederation, The Head of government of Germany is called Chancellor (Kanzler

SPD election poster of 1932. "Against Papen, Hitler, Thälmann; List 2, Social Democrats".
SPD election poster of 1932. "Against Papen, Hitler, Thälmann; List 2, Social Democrats". (29 October 1879 2 May 1969 was a German nobleman Catholic monarchist Politician, General Staff officer and Diplomat Hi and welcome to Wikipedia! Please understand that this article is frequently vandalized and vandalism is reverted immediately Ernst Thälmann ( April 16, 1886 &ndash August 18, 1944) was the leader of the Communist Party of Germany (KPD during much of the

Weimar Republic (1918 - 1933)

Subsequently the Social Democratic Party and the newly founded Communist Party of Germany (KPD, which consisted mostly of former members of the SPD) became bitter rivals, not least because of the legacy of the German Revolution. The Communist Party of Germany ( German Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands &ndash KPD) was a major political party in Germany between 1918 Under Defense Minister of Germany Gustav Noske the party aided in putting down the Communist and left wing Spartacist uprising throughout Germany in early 1919 with the use the Freikorps. This page contains a List of German defence ministers For pre-1919 Prussian Ministers of War see Prussian Minister of War. Gustav Noske ( July 9, 1868 - November 30, 1946) was a German administrator. The Spartacist uprising, also known as the January uprising, was a General strike (and the armed battles accompanying it in Germany from January 5 The designation of Freikorps ( German for "Free Corps " was originally applied to voluntary armies formed in German lands from the middle of 18th century While the KPD remained in staunch opposition to the newly established parliamentary system, the SPD became a part of the so-called Weimar Coalition, one of the pillars of the struggling republic, leading several of the shortlived interwar cabinets. The Weimar Coalition (Weimarer Koalition is the name given to the coalition of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD the German Democratic A cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of Government, typically representing the executive branch. The threat of the Communists put the SPD in a difficult position. The party had the choice between becoming more radical (which could weaken the Communists but lose its base among the middle class) or stay moderate, which would damage its base among the working class. The middle class, in colloquial usage consists of those who have some economic independence but not a great deal of social Influence or power. On July 20, 1932, the SPD-led Prussian government in Berlin, headed by Otto Braun, was ousted by Franz von Papen, the new Chancellor, by means of a Presidential decree. Events 1304 - Wars of Scottish Independence: Fall of Stirling Castle - King Edward I of England takes the last rebel stronghold Year 1932 ( MCMXXXII) was a Leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. This article is about the Prime Minister of Prussia For the Geman Communist and once the Comintern military adviser to the Chinese Commmunist revolution see Otto Braun (Li De (29 October 1879 2 May 1969 was a German nobleman Catholic monarchist Politician, General Staff officer and Diplomat This development proved to be a significant factor contributing to the ultimate downfall of the Weimar Republic. Following the appointment of Adolf Hitler as chancellor on January 30, 1933 by president Hindenburg, the SPD received 18. Hi and welcome to Wikipedia! Please understand that this article is frequently vandalized and vandalism is reverted immediately Events 1648 - Eighty Years' War: The Treaty of Münster is signed ending the conflict between the Netherlands and Spain Year 1933 ( MCMXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Paul Ludwig Hans Anton von Beneckendorff und von Hindenburg ( known universally as Paul von Hindenburg ( ( October 2, 1847 &ndash August 2 25% of the votes during the last (at least partial) free elections on March 5, gaining 120 seats. Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian moves from Antioch with an army of 90000 to attack the Sassanid Empire, in a These were not enough seats to prevent the ratification of the Enabling Act, which granted extra constitutional powers to the government, by two-thirds majority, as the SPD was the only party to vote against the act (the KPD being already outlawed and its parliamentary representatives under arrest, dead, or in exile). The Enabling Act ( in German) was passed by the Reichstag ( Germany 's parliament on March 23, 1933 and signed It still holds to this day a certain pride in being the only party that voted against it. After the passing of the Enabling Act, the party was finally banned by the Nazis on July 14, 1933. Nazism, which was a short name for National Socialism (Nationalsozialismus refers primarily to the Ideology and practices of the National Socialist German Events 1223 - Louis VIII becomes King of France upon the death of his father Philip II of France. Year 1933 ( MCMXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Nazi period / SoPaDe (1933 - 1945)

Being the only party in the Reichstag to have voted against the Enabling Act (with the Communist Party prevented from voting), the SPD was banned in the Summer of 1933 by the new Nazi government. Sopade (also called SoPaDe) was the name of the exile organization of the Social Democratic Party of Germany ( SPD) The Reichstag ( German for "Imperial Diet " was the Parliament of the Holy Roman Empire, the North German Confederation, The Enabling Act ( in German) was passed by the Reichstag ( Germany 's parliament on March 23, 1933 and signed The Communist Party of Germany ( German Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands &ndash KPD) was a major political party in Germany between 1918 Many of its members were jailed or sent to Nazi concentration camps. See also List of Nazi-German concentration camps, Extermination camp Prior to and during World War II, Nazi Germany under Hitler maintained An exile organization was established first in Prague. Others left the areas where they had been politically active and moved to other towns where they were not known. Friedrich Kellner, an organizer for the SPD in Mainz from 1920 to 1932, moved to Laubach, Oberhessen, where he then spent the war years risking his life to write his diary, "My Opposition". ( February 1, 1885 &ndash November 4, 1970) was a mid-level official in Germany who worked as a justice inspector in Mainz and My Opposition (Mein Widerstand is a Diary secretly written by the German social democrat Friedrich Kellner (1885 - 1970 during World War This diary was exhibited in the George Bush Presidential Library in 2005 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of VE Day. The George Bush Presidential Library and Museum is the Presidential library of George H

Between 1936 and 1939 some SPD members fought in Spain for the Republic against Franco and the German Condor Legion. The Spanish Civil War was a major conflict in Spain that started after an attempted Coup d'état committed by parts of the army against the government of

After the annexation of Czechoslovakia in 1938 the exile party resettled in Paris and after the defeat of France in 1940 in London. Only a few days after the outbreak of the World War II in September of 1939 the exiled SPD in Paris declared its support for the Allies and for the military removal from power of the Nazi government.

Post-War period (1946 - present)

The SPD was recreated after World War II in 1946 and admitted in all 4 occupation zones. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The Allied powers who defeated Nazi Germany in World War II divided the country west of the Oder-Neisse line into four occupation zones for administrative In West Germany, it was initially in the opposition from the first election of the newly founded Federal Republic in 1949 until 1966. West Germany ( Inf German: Westdeutschland or West-Deutschland) was the common English name for the Federal Republic of Germany ( In 1966 the coalition of the civic CDU and the liberal FDP broke and a Grand Coalition between CDU/CSU and SPD was formed under the leadership of CDU Chancellor Kiesinger. The Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands) is the largest Political party in Germany. The Free Democratic Party ( Freie Demokratische Partei, FDP is a liberal Political party in Germany. In 1969 the SPD won a majority for the first time since 1928 by forming a coalition with the FDP and led the federal government under Chancellors Willy Brandt and Helmut Schmidt from 1969 until 1982. Social-liberal coalition ( sozialliberale Koalition) in Germany refers to a government coalition formed by the Social Democratic Party and the Free The Head of government of Germany is called Chancellor (Kanzler Willy Brandt, born Herbert Ernst Karl Frahm (18 December 1913 - 8 October 1992 was a German politician Chancellor of West Germany 1969&ndash1974 Helmut Heinrich Waldemar Schmidt (born 23 December 1918 is a German Social Democratic Politician who served as Chancellor of West Germany In its 1959 Godesberg Program, the SPD officially abandoned the concept of a workers' party and Marxist principles while continuing to stress social welfare programs. The Godesberg Program (Godesberger Programm was the party program outline of the political course of Germany 's social-democratic party the SPD. Marxism is the political philosophy and practice derived from the work of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Although the SPD originally opposed West Germany's 1955 rearmament and entry into NATO while it favoured neutrality and reunification with East Germany, it now strongly supports German ties with the alliance. The North Atlantic Treaty The German Democratic Republic ( GDR; Deutsche Demokratische Republik DDR; commonly known in English as East Germany) was a Socialist state

In the Soviet occupation sector, which later became East Germany, the Social Democratic Party and the Communist Party of Germany were forced to merge to form the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED) in 1946. The German Democratic Republic ( GDR; Deutsche Demokratische Republik DDR; commonly known in English as East Germany) was a Socialist state The Communist Party of Germany ( German Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands &ndash KPD) was a major political party in Germany between 1918 The Socialist Unity Party of Germany ( German: Sozialistische Einheitspartei Deutschlands, SED) was the governing party of the German Democratic During the fall of Communist rule in 1989, the SPD was re-established as a separate party in East Germany (Social Democratic Party in the GDR), independent of the rump SED, and then merged with its West German counterpart upon reunification. The Social Democratic Party in the GDR ( Sozialdemokratische Partei in der DDR (SDP was founded on 7 October 1989 in Schwante near Berlin

In 1982 the SPD lost power to the new CDU/CSU-FDP coalition under CDU Chancellor Helmut Kohl who subsequently won 4 terms as chancellor. Helmut Josef Michael Kohl (born 3 April 1930 is a German conservative politician and statesman He lost his 4th re-election bid in 1998 to his SPD challenger Gerhard Schröder, as the SPD formed a coalition with The Greens to take control for the first time in 16 years. ˌɡeɐ̯haɐ̯t fʁɪʦ kʊɐ̯t ˈʃʁøːdɐ (born 7 April 1944 German politician, was Chancellor of Germany from 1998 to 2005 The Alliance '90/The Greens ( Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) the German Green party, is a Political party in Germany whose regional

The Schröder government

Led by Gerhard Schröder on a moderate platform emphasizing the need to reduce unemployment, the SPD emerged as the strongest party in the September 1998 elections with 40. ˌɡeɐ̯haɐ̯t fʁɪʦ kʊɐ̯t ˈʃʁøːdɐ (born 7 April 1944 German politician, was Chancellor of Germany from 1998 to 2005 In 1998 a German federal election was conducted on September 27, 1998, to elect members to the 14th Bundestag, the lower house of Germany. 9% of the votes cast. Crucial for this success was the SPD's strong base in big cities and Bundesländer with traditional industries. Forming a coalition government with the Green Party, the SPD thus returned to power for the first time since 1982. A coalition government, or coalition cabinet, is a Cabinet of a parliamentary Government in which several parties cooperate The Alliance '90/The Greens ( Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) the German Green party, is a Political party in Germany whose regional

Oskar Lafontaine, elected SPD chairman in November 1996 had in the run-up to the election forgone a bid for the SPD nomination for the chancellor candidacy, after Gerhard Schröder won a sweeping re-election victory as prime minister of his state of Lower Saxony and was widely believed to be the best chance for Social Democrats to regain the Chancellorship after 16 years in opposition. Oskar Lafontaine (ˈlafɔntɛn born September 16, 1943 in Saarlouis -Roden is a German Politician, former German finance minister Lower Saxony ( German: Niedersachsen ch is pronounced before an s --> lies in north-western Germany and is second From the beginning of this teaming up between Party chair Lafontaine and chancellor candidate Schröder during the election campaign 1998, rumors in the media about their internal rivalry persisted, albeit always being disputed by the two. After the election victory Lafontaine joined the government as finance minister. The rivalry between the two party leaders escalated in March 1999 leading to the overnight resignation of Lafontaine from all his party and government positions. After staying initially mum about the reasons for his resignation, Lafontaine later cited strong disagreement with the alleged neoliberal and anti-social course Schröder had taken the government on. Originally coined by its critics and opponents " neoliberalism " is a label referring to the recent reemergence of Economic liberalism or Classical liberalism Schröder himself has never commented on the row with Lafontaine. It is known however, that they haven't spoken to each other ever since. Schröder succeeded Lafontaine as party chairman.

In the September 2002 elections, the SPD reached 38. The 15th German federal election 2002 was conducted on September 22, 2002, to elect members to the Bundestag (lower house of Germany. 5% of the national vote, barely ahead of the CDU/CSU, and was again able to form a government with the help of the Green Party. The Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands) is the largest Political party in Germany. The Alliance '90/The Greens ( Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) the German Green party, is a Political party in Germany whose regional The European elections of 2004 were a disaster for the SPD, marking its worst result in a nationwide election after World War II with only 21. 5% of the vote. Earlier the same year, leadership of the SPD had changed from chancellor Gerhard Schröder to Franz Müntefering in what was widely regarded as an attempt to deal with internal party opposition to the economic reform programs set in motion by the federal government. ˌɡeɐ̯haɐ̯t fʁɪʦ kʊɐ̯t ˈʃʁøːdɐ (born 7 April 1944 German politician, was Chancellor of Germany from 1998 to 2005 (born January 16, 1940) is a German politician He was Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SPD from 2004 to 2005 and is expected to assume

While the SPD was founded in the 19th century to defend the interests of the working class, its commitment to these goals has been disputed by some since 1918, when its leaders supported the suppression of the more radical socialist and communist factions. Working class is a term used in academic Sociology and in ordinary conversation to describe depending on context and speaker those employed in specific fields or types But never before has the party moved so far away from its traditional socialist stance as it did under the Schröder government. Its ever increasing tendency towards liberal politics and cutbacks in government spending on social welfare programs led to a dramatic decline in voter support, and to Gerhard Schröder being pejoratively called "der Genosse der Bosse", meaning the (socialist) comrade (who is a friend) of the (big) bosses".

For many years, membership in the SPD has been declining. Down from a high of over 1 million in 1976, there were about 775,000 members at the time of the 1998 election victory, by February 2008 the figure had dropped to 537,995.

"For nuclear phase-out, against new nuclear plants." Election placard of the Social Democratic Party of Germany for the German federal election, 2005.
"For nuclear phase-out, against new nuclear plants. " Election placard of the Social Democratic Party of Germany for the German federal election, 2005.

In January 2005, some SPD members left the party to found the Electoral Alternative for Labor and Social Justice (WASG) in opposition to what they consider to be neoliberal leanings displayed by the SPD. Labour and Social Justice – The Electoral Alternative (Arbeit und soziale Gerechtigkeit – Die Wahlalternative WASG) was a German political party founded Originally coined by its critics and opponents " neoliberalism " is a label referring to the recent reemergence of Economic liberalism or Classical liberalism Former SPD chairman Oskar Lafontaine also joined this new party. Oskar Lafontaine (ˈlafɔntɛn born September 16, 1943 in Saarlouis -Roden is a German Politician, former German finance minister (Later, to contest the early federal election called by Schröder after the SPD lost heavily in a state election in their traditional stronghold of North Rhine-Westphalia, the western-based WASG and the eastern-based post-communist Party of Democratic Socialism would merge to form the Left Party. This article is about the party before the merger with WASG in 2007 ) These developments put pressure on the SPD to do something about its social image.

In April 2005, party chairman Franz Müntefering publicly criticized excessive profiteering in Germany's free market economy and proposed stronger involvement of the federal state in order to promote economic justice. (born January 16, 1940) is a German politician He was Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SPD from 2004 to 2005 and is expected to assume This triggered a debate that dominated the national news for several weeks. Müntefering's suggestions have been met with popular support, but there has also been harsh criticism not only by the industrial lobby. Political opponents claimed that Müntefering's choice of words, especially his reference to private equity funds as "locusts", were bordering on Nazi language. In Finance, private equity is an Asset class consisting of equity Securities in operating companies that are not Publicly traded on

In the German federal election, 2005, the SPD ended up trailing its conservative rivals by less than 1%, a much closer margin than had been expected. German federal elections took place on September 18, 2005 to elect the members of the 16th German Bundestag, the federal parliament of Germany Although the party had presented a program that included some more traditional left themes, such as an additional 3% tax on the highest tax bracket, this did not prevent the Left Party from making a strong showing, largely at the SPD's expense. Nevertheless, the overall result was sufficient to deny the opposition camp a majority.

The Merkel-led grand coalition

In the current German government, the SPD is now the junior partner in a grand coalition with the CDU/CSU under the leadership of Chancellor Angela Merkel, with Frank-Walter Steinmeier as Vice-Chancellor. A grand coalition is a Coalition government in a Multi-party Parliamentary system where the two largest political parties unite in a coalition The Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands) is the largest Political party in Germany. (ˈaŋɡela doʁoˈteːa ˈmɛɐ̯kəl (born Angela Dorothea Kasner, 17 July 1954 in Hamburg, West Germany) is the Chancellor of Germany. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, (born 5 January 1956) is a German politician who has served as the Foreign Minister of Germany since 22 November

However, Müntefering resigned as party chairman and was succeeded as chairman by Matthias Platzeck, minister-president of Brandenburg. Matthias Platzeck (born 29 December 1953) is a German politician A minister-president (Ministerpräsident is the Head of government in a number of European countries or subnational governments who presides over the council of ministers Brandenburg ( Lower Sorbian: Bramborska; Upper Sorbian: Braniborska) is one of the sixteen states of Germany. Müntefering's decision came after the party's steering committee chose a woman from the left wing of the party, Andrea Nahles, as secretary general over Müntefering's choice, his long-time aide Kajo Wasserhövel. Andrea Maria Nahles (born June 20 1970 in Mendig, Rhineland-Palatinate) is a German Politician, a Bundestag However, after Müntefering said her election indicated that he had lost the confidence of the party and he would therefore resign, Nahles turned down the post of secretary general to prevent the party splitting. Hubertus Heil was elected in her place. Hubertus Heil (born November 3, 1972 in Hildesheim) is a German politician

On April 10, 2006 Matthias Platzeck announced his resignation of the Chair because he suffered a major hearing loss in March 2006. Events 879 - Louis III becomes King of the Western Franks. 1407 - the lama Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The interim Chairman from April 10 to May 14 was Kurt Beck. Events 879 - Louis III becomes King of the Western Franks. 1407 - the lama Events 1264 - Battle of Lewes: Henry III of England is captured in France making Simon de Montfort the Kurt Beck (born February 5, 1949) is a German Politician ( SPD) serving as the Minister President of the German federal He won the full leadership on a small party convention on May 14. Events 1264 - Battle of Lewes: Henry III of England is captured in France making Simon de Montfort the

People

Leading members of the SPD before World War I

Chairmen of the Social Democratic Party

In the Kaiserreich and the Weimar Republic:

In exile:

After the war:

Chairmen in West Germany:

The refounded Social Democratic Party in the GDR:

Since the German reunification:

German Chancellors from SPD

German Presidents from SPD

Under the postwar constitution, the German President needs to be impartial, therefore party membership is not exercised during the time in office. Dr Kurt Schumacher (13 October 1895 - 20 August 1952 was the leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany from 1945 to 1952 Erich Ollenhauer ( March 27 1901 &ndash December 14 1963) was the leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD 1952-1963 Willy Brandt, born Herbert Ernst Karl Frahm (18 December 1913 - 8 October 1992 was a German politician Chancellor of West Germany 1969&ndash1974 Hans-Jochen Vogel (born February 3 1926 in Göttingen) is a German Politician. The German Democratic Republic ( GDR; Deutsche Demokratische Republik DDR; commonly known in English as East Germany) was a Socialist state Ibrahim Böhme (November 18 1944 – November 22 1999 was a politician for a short period of time after the collapse of the communist regime in the German Democratic Republic also Markus Meckel ( August 18, 1952 - is a German Theologian and Politician. Hans-Jochen Vogel (born February 3 1926 in Göttingen) is a German Politician. Björn Engholm (born November 9 1939) is a Lübeck born German SPD Politician. Johannes Rau ( January 16, 1931 &ndash January 27, 2006) was a German Politician of the SPD. Rudolf Scharping ( December 2 1947 in Niederelbert) is a German Politician ( SPD) Oskar Lafontaine (ˈlafɔntɛn born September 16, 1943 in Saarlouis -Roden is a German Politician, former German finance minister ˌɡeɐ̯haɐ̯t fʁɪʦ kʊɐ̯t ˈʃʁøːdɐ (born 7 April 1944 German politician, was Chancellor of Germany from 1998 to 2005 (born January 16, 1940) is a German politician He was Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SPD from 2004 to 2005 and is expected to assume Matthias Platzeck (born 29 December 1953) is a German politician Kurt Beck (born February 5, 1949) is a German Politician ( SPD) serving as the Minister President of the German federal Friedrich Ebert ( February 4, 1871 February 28, 1925) was a German Politician ( SPD) who served as Philipp Scheidemann ( 26 July 1865 &ndash 29 November 1939) was a German Social Democratic politician who proclaimed the ( 6 January 1870 &ndash 16 September 1944) was a German Social Democratic Party leader and Chancellor of Germany ( May 18, 1876 &ndash March 20, 1931) born in Mannheim, was a German Social Democratic politician who served as Foreign Willy Brandt, born Herbert Ernst Karl Frahm (18 December 1913 - 8 October 1992 was a German politician Chancellor of West Germany 1969&ndash1974 Helmut Heinrich Waldemar Schmidt (born 23 December 1918 is a German Social Democratic Politician who served as Chancellor of West Germany ˌɡeɐ̯haɐ̯t fʁɪʦ kʊɐ̯t ˈʃʁøːdɐ (born 7 April 1944 German politician, was Chancellor of Germany from 1998 to 2005 Friedrich Ebert ( February 4, 1871 February 28, 1925) was a German Politician ( SPD) who served as Gustav Walter Heinemann GCB ( July 23, 1899 - July 7, 1976) was a German politician Johannes Rau ( January 16, 1931 &ndash January 27, 2006) was a German Politician of the SPD.

See also

Further reading

External links

© 2009 citizendia.org; parts available under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License, from http://en.wikipedia.org