Germany: Political parties at a glance

Parties in comparison

Liberal
Socialist
Capitalist
Conservative

Explanation of the chart

The graph shows the economic orientation of the parties on the X-axis from left to right. The further left, the more actively the state should intervene via taxes, regulations and redistribution. The further to the right, the less the state should intervene.

On the Y-axis from top to bottom, the parties are categorized according to their life models. The further up a party, the more it prioritizes liberal lifestyles over traditional views and material goods. The further down, the more a party aligns itself with traditional lifestyles and sees the state as the moral authority for living together.

Data was collected through the 2019 Chapel Hill Expert Survey by more than 400 policy experts. Party positions may change over time. Therefore, the chart serves only as an overview and cannot make statements about specific political topics.

Ryan Bakker, Liesbet Hooghe, Seth Jolly, Gary Marks, Jonathan Polk, Jan Rovny, Marco Steenbergen, and Milada Anna Vachudova. 2020. “2019 Chapel Hill Expert Survey.” - University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

SPD

Social Democratic Party of Germany
Centre-left
S&D
EU Parliament
Government

SPD (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands) is a center-left party and currently represented in parliament with 206 MPs.

The SPD stands for core values such as social justice, equal opportunities, and democracy. It advocates for workers' rights, education for all, and a fair distribution of income.

Bündnis 90/Die Grünen

Alliance ’90/The Greens
Environment & Climate
G/EFA
EU Parliament
Government

Bündnis 90/Die Grünen is a green party and currently represented in parliament with 118 MPs.

Bündnis 90/Die Grünen represent green and ecological values, advocate for sustainability, environmental protection, and social justice. They emphasize the importance of ecological responsibility.

FDP

Free Democratic Party
Liberal politics
RE
EU Parliament
Government

FDP (Freie Demokratische Partei) is a liberal party and currently represented in parliament with 92 MPs.

The FDP represents liberal core values such as individual freedom, market economy, and the rule of law. It advocates for economic freedom and individual responsibility.

CDU/CSU

Christian Democratic Union of Germany
Centre-right
EPP
EU Parliament
Opposition

CDU/CSU (Christlich Demokratische Union / Christlich-Soziale Union) is a center-right party that is currently represented in the parliament with 197 MPs.

The CDU/CSU represents conservative values and emphasizes the importance of family, community, and Christian values. It advocates for economic stability, the rule of law, and job security.

AfD

Alternative for Germany
Right-wing
ID
EU Parliament
Opposition

AfD (Alternative für Deutschland) is a right-wing party that is currently represented in the parliament with 82 MPs.

The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution classifies the AfD federal party as a suspected extremist case. The state associations in Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt and Saxony are confirmed right-wing extremist.

The AfD represents conservative and nationalist values, emphasizes Germany's sovereignty, and opposes the EU in its current form. It advocates for more direct democracy and the protection of national identity.

Die Linke

The Left
Left-wing
LEFT
EU Parliament
Opposition

Die Linke is a left party that is currently represented in the parliament with 39 MPs.

Die Linke represents socialist and social democratic values, advocates for social justice and equal participation. It emphasizes the importance of redistribution and public services.

Südschleswigscher Wählerverband

Southern Schleswig Voters' Association
Regional interests
?
EU Parliament
Opposition

Südschleswigscher Wählerverband is a regional interest party that is currently represented in the parliament with 1 MPs.

The SSW advocates for the cultural and linguistic diversity of the Danish and Frisian minorities. They emphasize the importance of minority rights and the preservation of cultural identity.

BSW

Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht
Transversal
?
EU Parliament
No seats

BSW (Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht) is a party of undefinable orientation from Germany.

The party upholds core values such as social justice, economic rationality, peace, and personal freedom.

Bayernpartei

Bayernpartei
Centre-right
?
EU Parliament
No seats

Bayernpartei is a center-right party from Germany.

BÜRGERBEWEGUNG

Civic movement for progress and change
Transversal
?
EU Parliament
No seats

BÜRGERBEWEGUNG (Bürgerbewegung für Fortschritt und Wandel) is a party of undefinable orientation from Germany.

Bündnis 21

Bündnis 21
Transversal
?
EU Parliament
No seats

Bündnis 21 is a party of undefinable orientation from Germany.

Bündnis C

Bündnis C – Christen für Deutschland
Unknown
?
EU Parliament
No seats

Bündnis C (Bündnis C – Christen für Deutschland) is a party from Germany.

Bürgerrechtsbewegung Solidarität

Bürgerrechtsbewegung Solidarität
Unknown
?
EU Parliament
No seats

Bürgerrechtsbewegung Solidarität is a party from Germany.

DKP-DRP

Deutsche Konservative Partei – Deutsche Rechtspartei
Right-wing
?
EU Parliament
No seats

DKP-DRP (Deutsche Konservative Partei – Deutsche Rechtspartei) is a right-wing party from Germany.

Demokratie in Bewegung

Demokratie in Bewegung
Unknown
?
EU Parliament
No seats

Demokratie in Bewegung is a party from Germany.

Die Grauen

Die Grauen – Für alle Generationen
Unknown
?
EU Parliament
No seats

Die Grauen (Die Grauen – Für alle Generationen) is a party from Germany.

Die PARTEI

Party for Labour, Rule of Law, Animal Protection, Promotion of Elites and Grassroots Democratic Initiative
Satire
NI
EU Parliament
No seats

Die PARTEI is a satire party from Germany.

The PARTY represents satirical core values and humorously advocates for freedom of expression and political satire. They emphasize the importance of irony and sarcasm in politics.

Die Urbane

Die Urbane. Eine HipHop Partei
Unknown
?
EU Parliament
No seats

Die Urbane (Die Urbane. Eine HipHop Partei) is a party from Germany.

Freie Wähler

Free Voters
Centre-right
RE
EU Parliament
No seats

Freie Wähler is a center-right party from Germany.

The Free Voters represent a pragmatic and independent position and advocate for citizen proximity and direct democracy. They emphasize the importance of regional diversity and independence from party politics.

Gartenpartei

Gartenpartei
Unknown
?
EU Parliament
No seats

Gartenpartei is a party from Germany.

Gesundheitsforschung

Partei für Gesundheitsforschung
Unknown
?
EU Parliament
No seats

Gesundheitsforschung (Partei für Gesundheitsforschung) is a party from Germany.

Gleichheitspartei

Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei, Vierte Internationale
Unknown
?
EU Parliament
No seats

Gleichheitspartei (Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei, Vierte Internationale) is a party from Germany.

III. Weg

The Third Way
Far right
?
EU Parliament
No seats

III. Weg (Der Dritte Weg) is a far-right party from Germany.

LIEBE

Europäische Partei LIEBE
Unknown
?
EU Parliament
No seats

LIEBE (Europäische Partei LIEBE) is a party from Germany.

LKR

Liberal-Conservative Reformers
Centre-right
ECR
EU Parliament
No seats

LKR (Liberal-Konservative Reformer) is a center-right party from Germany.

Lobbyisten für Kinder

Party for children, youth and families - lobbyists for children
Transversal
?
EU Parliament
No seats

Lobbyisten für Kinder (Partei für Kinder, Jugendliche und Familien - Lobbyisten für Kinder) is a party of undefinable orientation from Germany.

MENSCHLICHE WELT

Menschliche Welt – für das Wohl und Glücklichsein aller
Unknown
?
EU Parliament
No seats

MENSCHLICHE WELT (Menschliche Welt – für das Wohl und Glücklichsein aller) is a party from Germany.

MLPD

Marxist-Leninist Party of Germany
Far left
?
EU Parliament
No seats

MLPD (Marxistisch-Leninistische Partei Deutschlands) is a far-left party from Germany.

NPD

Nationaldemokratische Partei Deutschlands
Far right
?
EU Parliament
No seats

NPD (Nationaldemokratische Partei Deutschlands) is a far-right party from Germany.

Partei der Humanisten

Humanist Party
Unknown
?
EU Parliament
No seats

Partei der Humanisten is a party from Germany.

Partei des Fortschritts

Party of progress
Transversal
?
EU Parliament
No seats

Partei des Fortschritts is a party of undefinable orientation from Germany.

Piratenpartei

Pirate Party Germany
Centre-left
G/EFA
EU Parliament
No seats

Piratenpartei is a center-left party from Germany.

The Pirate Party represents the fundamental values of data protection, freedom of expression, and citizen participation. They emphasize the importance of digital rights and privacy protection.

Team Todenhöfer

Team Todenhöfer - The Justice Party
Transversal
?
EU Parliament
No seats

Team Todenhöfer (Team Todenhöfer – Die Gerechtigkeitspartei) is a party of undefinable orientation from Germany.

Tierschutzallianz

Allianz für Menschenrechte, Tier- und Naturschutz
Unknown
?
EU Parliament
No seats

Tierschutzallianz (Allianz für Menschenrechte, Tier- und Naturschutz) is a party from Germany.

Tierschutzpartei

Animal Welfare Party
Animal Protection
LEFT
EU Parliament
No seats

Tierschutzpartei (PARTEI MENSCH UMWELT TIERSCHUTZ) is a animal rights party from Germany.

The Animal Welfare Party represents the rights of people, the environment and animals at the political level. Its work is ethical and science-based and emphasizes the importance of treating animals and nature with respect. Among other things, it advocates consistent climate protection, a ban on animal testing, a sustainable and social economic system and the promotion of organic vegan agriculture.

UNABHÄNGIGE

Unabhängige für bürgernahe Demokratie
Unknown
?
EU Parliament
No seats

UNABHÄNGIGE (Unabhängige für bürgernahe Demokratie) is a party from Germany.

V-Partei³

V-Partei³ - Partei für Veränderung, Vegetarier und Veganer
Unknown
?
EU Parliament
No seats

V-Partei³ (V-Partei³ - Partei für Veränderung, Vegetarier und Veganer) is a party from Germany.

Volt

Volt
Centre-left
G/EFA
EU Parliament
No seats

Volt is a center-left party from Germany.

Volt represents pro-European values and advocates for a federal Europe and a shared European identity. They emphasize the importance of diversity, inclusion, and European solidarity.

die Basis

Basic Democratic Party Germany
Unknown
?
EU Parliament
No seats

die Basis (Basisdemokratische Partei Deutschland) is a party from Germany.

ÖDP

Ecological Democratic Party
Environment & Climate
G/EFA
EU Parliament
No seats

ÖDP (Ökologisch Demokratische Partei) is a green party from Germany.