Parties and political opinion formation

In short: Parties bundle interests, nominate candidates and form governments. According to Article 21 of the Basic Law they take part in the political opinion formation of the people.

In more detail: They must be organised democratically and disclose their finances.

In detail

• Tasks: Develop programmes, run campaigns, select candidates, form or scrutinise the government.
• Spectrum: From left to right with different positions on economy, society and environment.
• Membership: Anyone can join a party and help decide.
• Party funding: Membership fees, donations and state funds; transparency rules.
• Banning a party: Only by the Federal Constitutional Court in the case of hostility to the constitution.
• Other actors: Associations, trade unions, citizens’ initiatives, media (buergerinitiativen-ehrenamt-und-engagement).
• Coalition and opposition: Cooperation and scrutiny.
• Criticism: Political disenchantment, lobbying influence (wahlen-und-wahlsystem-in-deutschland).