The Association of Free Democrats (german: Bund Freier Demokraten) was a liberal coalition, later party, formed in
East Germany
East Germany, officially the German Democratic Republic (GDR; german: Deutsche Demokratische Republik, , DDR, ), was a country that existed from its creation on 7 October 1949 until its dissolution on 3 October 1990. In these years the state ...
on 12 February 1990. It originally consisted of the
Liberal Democratic Party, the
Free Democratic Party (GDR)
The Free Democratic Party (GDR) (german: Freie Demokratische Partei, DDR) was an opposition political party in East Germany. The appeal for its formation was made on 25 November 1989 in Berlin by those East German liberals who doubted the ability ...
and the
German Forum Party
The German Forum Party (german: Deutsche Forumpartei) was an opposition political party in East Germany. It was formed from the New Forum (''Neues Forum'') citizens' movement. It was founded in Karl-Marx-Stadt (now Chemnitz) on 27 January 1990. It ...
. In the
Volkskammer
__NOTOC__
The Volkskammer (, ''People's Chamber'') was the unicameral legislature of the German Democratic Republic (colloquially known as East Germany).
The Volkskammer was initially the lower house of a bicameral legislature. The upper house ...
election of the 18 March 1990 the Association of Free Democrats, heavily supported by the West German
Free Democratic Party, polled 5.28% of the votes and gained 21 seats, all parties running on the same lists. Most of the seats went to
Liberal Democratic Party members, whose leader
Rainer Ortleb
Rainer Ortleb (born Gera 5 June 1944) is a German academic and politician.
From October 1990 he served under Helmut Kohl as a Federal Minister for Special Affairs in Germany's first post-reunification government. In the next government, bet ...
became their parliamentary leader. It then participated in the last GDR government led by
Lothar de Maizière
Lothar de Maizière (; born 2 March 1940) is a German Christian Democratic politician. In 1990, he served as the only premier of the German Democratic Republic to be democratically elected freely and fairly by the people. He was also the last ...
.
On 27 March 1990, the
Liberal Democratic Party and the
National Democratic Party of Germany
The National Democratic Party of Germany (german: Nationaldemokratische Partei Deutschlands or NPD) is a far-right Neo-Nazi and ultranationalist political party in Germany.
The party was founded in 1964 as successor to the German Reich Party ...
, previously excluded from the coalition, merged into the party ''Association of Free Democrats''. Finally, on 11 August 1990 the Association of Free Democrats party, the
Free Democratic Party (GDR)
The Free Democratic Party (GDR) (german: Freie Demokratische Partei, DDR) was an opposition political party in East Germany. The appeal for its formation was made on 25 November 1989 in Berlin by those East German liberals who doubted the ability ...
and the
German Forum Party
The German Forum Party (german: Deutsche Forumpartei) was an opposition political party in East Germany. It was formed from the New Forum (''Neues Forum'') citizens' movement. It was founded in Karl-Marx-Stadt (now Chemnitz) on 27 January 1990. It ...
merged with the
Free Democratic Party.
See also
*
Liberalism
Liberalism is a political and moral philosophy based on the rights of the individual, liberty, consent of the governed, political equality and equality before the law."political rationalism, hostility to autocracy, cultural distaste for c ...
*
Contributions to liberal theory
Contribution or Contribute may refer to:
* ''Contribution'' (album), by Mica Paris (1990)
** "Contribution" (song), title song from the album
*Contribution (law), an agreement between defendants in a suit to apportion liability
*Contributions, a ...
*
Liberalism worldwide
This article gives information on liberalism worldwide. It is an overview of parties that adhere to some form of liberalism and is therefore a list of liberal parties around the world.
Introduction
The definition of liberal party is highly deba ...
*
List of liberal parties
This article gives information on liberalism worldwide. It is an overview of parties that adhere to some form of liberalism and is therefore a list of liberal parties around the world.
Introduction
The definition of liberal party is highly deba ...
*
Liberal democracy
Liberal democracy is the combination of a liberal political ideology that operates under an indirect democratic form of government. It is characterized by elections between multiple distinct political parties, a separation of powers into diff ...
*
Liberalism in Germany
This article aims to give a historical outline of liberalism in Germany. The liberal parties dealt with in the timeline below are, largely, those which received sufficient support at one time or another to have been represented in parliament. Not ...
External links
Association of Free Democrats from ''chronik der wende''
1990 establishments in East Germany
1990 disestablishments in East Germany
Germany 1990
Defunct political party alliances in Germany
Peaceful Revolution
Free Democratic Party (Germany)
Organizations of the Revolutions of 1989
Political opposition organizations
Political parties disestablished in 1990
Political parties established in 1990
Political parties in East Germany
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