Social-liberal coalition
Encyclopedia
Social-liberal coalition in Germany
refers to a governmental coalition
formed by the Social Democratic Party
(SPD) and the Free Democratic Party
(FDP).
The term stems from social democracy
of the SPD and the liberalism
of the FDP. Because of the colours traditionally used to symbolise the two parties (red for SPD and yellow for FDP), such a coalition is also referred to as a "red-yellow" coalition (rot-gelbe Koalition).
Social-liberal coalitions are currently rare, as the SPD usually governs with the Alliance '90/The Greens
and the FDP orients itself towards long-term co-operation with the Christian Democratic Union
and Bavarian Christian Social Union
. However, a social-liberal coalition ruled from 1991 to 2006 in the German State
of Rhineland-Palatinate
and would have continued to do so, had the SPD not won an absolute majority. Social-liberal coalitions have previously been in power in many other federal states of Germany as well.
From 1969 to 1982 social-liberal coalitions led by Federal Chancellors Willy Brandt
and Helmut Schmidt
governed the Federal Republic of Germany
.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
refers to a governmental coalition
Coalition government
A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...
formed by the Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
(SPD) and the Free Democratic Party
Free Democratic Party (Germany)
The Free Democratic Party , abbreviated to FDP, is a centre-right classical liberal political party in Germany. It is led by Philipp Rösler and currently serves as the junior coalition partner to the Union in the German federal government...
(FDP).
The term stems from social democracy
Social democracy
Social democracy is a political ideology of the center-left on the political spectrum. Social democracy is officially a form of evolutionary reformist socialism. It supports class collaboration as the course to achieve socialism...
of the SPD and the liberalism
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
of the FDP. Because of the colours traditionally used to symbolise the two parties (red for SPD and yellow for FDP), such a coalition is also referred to as a "red-yellow" coalition (rot-gelbe Koalition).
Social-liberal coalitions are currently rare, as the SPD usually governs with the Alliance '90/The Greens
Alliance '90/The Greens
Alliance '90/The Greens is a green political party in Germany, formed from the merger of the German Green Party and Alliance 90 in 1993. Its leaders are Claudia Roth and Cem Özdemir...
and the FDP orients itself towards long-term co-operation with the Christian Democratic Union
Christian Democratic Union (Germany)
The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum...
and Bavarian Christian Social Union
Christian Social Union of Bavaria
The Christian Social Union in Bavaria is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It operates only in the state of Bavaria, while its sister party, the Christian Democratic Union , operates in the other 15 states of Germany...
. However, a social-liberal coalition ruled from 1991 to 2006 in the German State
States of Germany
Germany is made up of sixteen which are partly sovereign constituent states of the Federal Republic of Germany. Land literally translates as "country", and constitutionally speaking, they are constituent countries...
of Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate is one of the 16 states of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has an area of and about four million inhabitants. The capital is Mainz. English speakers also commonly refer to the state by its German name, Rheinland-Pfalz ....
and would have continued to do so, had the SPD not won an absolute majority. Social-liberal coalitions have previously been in power in many other federal states of Germany as well.
From 1969 to 1982 social-liberal coalitions led by Federal Chancellors Willy Brandt
Willy Brandt
Willy Brandt, born Herbert Ernst Karl Frahm , was a German politician, Mayor of West Berlin 1957–1966, Chancellor of West Germany 1969–1974, and leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany 1964–1987....
and Helmut Schmidt
Helmut Schmidt
Helmut Heinrich Waldemar Schmidt is a German Social Democratic politician who served as Chancellor of West Germany from 1974 to 1982. Prior to becoming chancellor, he had served as Minister of Defence and Minister of Finance. He had also served briefly as Minister of Economics and as acting...
governed the Federal Republic of Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
.
Social-liberal coalitions at the federal states' level
After the term, the leader of the government is given.Berlin
- 1963-66 Willy BrandtWilly BrandtWilly Brandt, born Herbert Ernst Karl Frahm , was a German politician, Mayor of West Berlin 1957–1966, Chancellor of West Germany 1969–1974, and leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany 1964–1987....
(despite having an absolute majority) - 1966-67 Heinrich AlbertzHeinrich AlbertzHeinrich Albertz was a German clergyman, theologian and politician. He was born in Breslau, today , to a pastor as the younger half brother of Resistance fighter Martin Albertz...
(despite having an absolute majority) - 1967-71 Klaus SchützKlaus SchützKlaus Schütz is a German politician of the Social Democratic Party .-Biography:He was Mayor of West Berlin from 1967 to 1977, serving as President of the Bundesrat in 1967/68. After his resignation he worked as German Ambassador to Israel until 1981 and Director General of the Deutsche Welle...
(despite having an absolute majority) - 1975-77 Klaus Schütz
- 1977-81 Dietrich StobbeDietrich StobbeDietrich Stobbe was a German politician from Weepers, East Prussia.Stobbe served as Mayor of West Berlin from 2 May 1977 till 23 January 1981...
- 1981 Hans-Jochen VogelHans-Jochen VogelHans-Jochen Vogel is a politician of the Social Democratic Party of Germany.- Early years and professional career :...
Hamburg
- 1957-61 Max BrauerMax BrauerMax Julius Friedrich Brauer was a German politician of the Social Democratic Party and First Mayor of Hamburg....
- 1961-65 Paul NevermannPaul NevermannPaul Nevermann was a German politician, member of the Social Democratic Party and First Mayor of Hamburg ....
- 1965-66 Herbert WeichmannHerbert WeichmannHerbert Weichmann was a German lawyer and politician and First Mayor of Hamburg . In his position as mayor of Hamburg, he served as President of the Bundesrat .-Life:Weichmann was born in Landsberg, Upper Silesia, then part of the German Reich, to a Jewish family of physicians...
- 1970-71 Herbert Weichmann
- 1971-74 Peter SchulzPeter SchulzPeter Schulz is a German politician, member of the Social Democratic Party and First Mayor of Hamburg .Schulz was born in Rostock...
- 1974-78 Hans-Ulrich KloseHans-Ulrich KloseHans-Ulrich Klose is a German politician from the Social Democratic Party and is now as of 2007 member of the German Federal Diet...
- 1987-88 Klaus von DohnanyiKlaus von DohnanyiKlaus von Dohnanyi is a German politician and a member of the Social Democratic Party . Dohnanyi is the son of Hans and Christine Dohnanyi, and thus a nephew of Dietrich Bonhoeffer...
- 1988-91 Henning VoscherauHenning VoscherauHenning Voscherau is a German notary and Social Democratic politician. He was the First Mayor of his home city from 1988 to 1997, serving as President of the Bundesrat in 1990 – 91.-Education:...
North Rhine-Westphalia
- 1956-58 Fritz Steinhoff
- 1966-78 Heinz KühnHeinz KühnHeinz Kühn was a German politician and Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia . He was born in Cologne.- External links :*...
- 1978-80 Johannes RauJohannes RauJohannes Rau was a German politician of the SPD. He was President of Germany from 1 July 1999 until 30 June 2004, and Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia from 1978 to 1998.-Education and work:...
See also
- Grand coalition (Germany)Grand Coalition (Germany)In modern Germany, grand coalition describes a governing coalition of the Christian Democrats and the Social Democrats, as they are the two largest parties.-Weimar Republic:...
- Traffic light coalitionTraffic light coalitionTraffic light coalition is a term originating in German politics where it describes a coalition of the Social Democratic Party , the Free Democratic Party , and The Greens. It arises from the fact that the parties' traditional colours, respectively red, yellow, and green, resemble the normal...
- Jamaica coalitionJamaica coalitionJamaica coalition is a term in German politics describing a coalition among the parties of the Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union , Free Democratic Party , and the Green Party....
- Red-green allianceRed-green allianceIn politics, a red-green alliance is an alliance of "red" social-democratic or democratic socialist parties with "green" environmentalist parties. The alliance is often based on common left political views, especially a shared distrust of corporate or capitalist institutions...
- Lib-Lab pactLib-Lab pactIn British politics, a Lib-Lab pact is a working arrangement between the Liberal Democrats and the Labour Party.There have been four such arrangements, and one alleged proposal, at the national level...
for the equivalent in British politics - Purple (government)Purple (government)Purple is a common term in politics for governments or other political entities consisting of parties that have red and blue as their political colours...