Social Democratic Party of Germany

:SPD redirects here. For other uses, see SPD (disambiguation)

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 40.9% 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.

Related Topics:
Gerhard Schröder - September 1998 elections - Coalition government - Green Party - 1982

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Oskar Lafontaine, elected SPD chairman November 1995, and having joined the government as minister for economy and finance, resigned from his party and government positions in March 1999. Schröder succeeded Lafontaine as party chairman.

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In the September 2002 elections, the SPD reached 38.5% 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 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.

Related Topics:
September 2002 elections - CDU/CSU - Green Party - 2004 - Gerhard Schröder - Franz Müntefering

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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. But never before has the party moved so far away from its traditional socialist stance as it did under the current Schröder government. Its ever increasing tendency towards liberal (in the European sense) politics and cut-downs in social welfare 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".

Related Topics:
Working class - 1918

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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 August 2003 the figure had dropped to 663,000, and at the end of March 2005 there were less than 600,000 SPD members remaining.

Related Topics:
August 2003 - March 2005

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In January 2005, some SPD members left the party to found the Labour and Social Justice Party (WASG) in opposition to what they consider to be neoliberal leanings displayed by the SPD. Former SPD chairman Oskar Lafontaine will also join this new party. Thus coming under increased pressure from the political left, the SPD obviously saw the need to do something for its social image:

Related Topics:
Labour and Social Justice Party - Neoliberal - Oskar Lafontaine

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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. 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. It was claimed that Münteferings choice of words, especially his reference to foreign private equity funds as "locusts", were bordering on Nazi language.

Related Topics:
Franz Müntefering - Private equity

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In July 2005 the party presentes its program for the early German federal election, 2005, which included some more traditional left topics, like an additional 3% tax for the rich.

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