Free Democratic Party of Switzerland
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The Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei (FDP) (in French: Parti radical-démocratique (PRD) and in Italian: Partito Liberale-Radicale Svizzero (PLR)) is a free market liberal party in Switzerland. The official English translation of the party's name is Free Democratic Party of Switzerland.
The party is a member of Liberal International and the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party. A few of the cantonal parties in Central Switzerland are/were named Liberal Party (Liberale Partei), and not affiliated with the Liberal Party of Switzerland.
As of January 2004, the party president is Christiane Langenberger. Current members in the Federal Council are Pascal Couchepin and Hans-Rudolf Merz.
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History
The elements liberal, radical and "free-thinking" (German freisinnig) in the party's name suggest a left-wing party, while in the current political landscape of Switzerland, the FDP is center-right. This is because the name dates back to the conflicts between the catholic conservative cantons and the protestant liberal cantons that led to the foundation of the Swiss federal state in 1848. The burgeois protestant cantons had defeated the catholic cantons, and from 1848 until 1891, the Federal Council was composed entirely of FDP members. It was only with the rise of the Social Democratic Party of Switzerland in the early 20th century that the FDP found itself on the right side of the political center.
Presidents
- 1978-1984 Yann Richter, Neuchâtel
- 1984-1989 Bruno Hunziker, Aargau
- 1989-2001 Franz Steinegger, Uri
- 2001-2002 Gerold Bührer, Schaffhausen
- 2002-2004 Christiane Langenberger, Vaud
- 2004- Rolf Schweiger, Zug
External link
- Official web site (in German)
- Official web site (in French)
See also
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de:Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei
