| − | The '''Social Democratic Party''' or '''SPD''' is a left-center party in Germany. From 2005 to 2009 it formed a "grand coalition government" (a coalition between the two largest parties) with the rival [[CDU]]. In the German elections in 2009, the SPD suffered a historical loss of 9,2 % of the vote, reaching only 23 % in total. This gave the CDU (which reached 33,8% combined with its sister-party CSU) the possibility to form a conservative coalition with the 'Liberal Democratic Party of Germany', the [[FDP]]. This was considered a 'dream marriage', as opposed to the 'shotgun marriage'-coalition with the SPD. 2013 the FDP got only 4,8 %, why it will leave the parliament. It is expected that the SPD will form a coalition with the CDU again. | + | The '''Social Democratic Party''' or '''SPD''' is a left-center party in Germany. From 2005 to 2009 it formed a "grand coalition government" (a coalition between the two largest parties) with the rival [[CDU]]. In the German elections in 2009, the SPD suffered a historical loss of 9,2 % of the vote, reaching only 23 % in total. This gave the CDU (which reached 33,8% combined with its sister-party CSU) the possibility to form a conservative coalition with the 'Liberal Democratic Party of Germany', the [[FDP]]. This was considered a 'dream marriage', as opposed to the 'shotgun marriage'-coalition with the SPD. 2013 the FDP got only 4,8 %, why it left the parliament. Now the SPD is forming a coalition with the CDU again. |
| | Current leader of the SPD is Sigmar Gabriel, succeeding Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who had been vice chancellor and minister of foreign affairs during the grand coalition. The SPD is a member of the [[Socialist International]]. | | Current leader of the SPD is Sigmar Gabriel, succeeding Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who had been vice chancellor and minister of foreign affairs during the grand coalition. The SPD is a member of the [[Socialist International]]. |