- Free Democratic Party of Switzerland
Infobox Swiss Political Party
party_name = Free Democratic Party of Switzerland
party_
party_wikicolourid = FDP
german_name = Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei der Schweiz (FDP)
french_name = Parti radical-démocratique suisse (PRD)
italian_name = Partito liberale radicale svizzero (PLR) | romansh_name = Partida liberaldemocrata svizra (PLD)
president =Fulvio Pelli
council_members =Pascal Couchepin andHans-Rudolf Merz
foundation = 1848
headquarters = Neuengasse 20 Postfach 6136CH-3001 Berne
ideology =Liberalism ,Conservative liberalism ,Libertarianism
european =European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party
international =Liberal International
colours = Blue
website = [http://www.prd.ch/ www.prd.ch] The Free Democratic Party of Switzerland ( _de. Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei der Schweiz (FDP), _fr. Parti radical-démocratique suisse (PRD); _it. Partito liberale radicale svizzero (PLR); _rm. Partida liberaldemocrata svizra (PLD)) is a liberal party inSwitzerland . Its youth organisation is Young Liberals.The party is a member of
Liberal International and theEuropean 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 theLiberal Party of Switzerland .
As of March 2005, the party president isFulvio Pelli . Current members in the Federal Council arePascal Couchepin andHans-Rudolf Merz .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 during the period of Restauration between the Catholic conservative cantons and the Protestant liberal cantons that led to the foundation of the
Swiss federal state in 1848.The bourgeois Protestant cantons had defeated the Catholic cantons, and from 1848 until 1891, the Federal Council was composed entirely of FDP members. The "Radical Party" of the restoration was actually left-wing compared to the Catholic Conservative Party, and 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.After the federal election 2003 FDP and LPS founded a common group in the Federal Assembly. In June 2005 they strengthened their cooperation by founding
Radical and Liberal Union [ [http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/swissinfo.html?siteSect=881&sid=5899597 New alliance counters left-right polarisation - swissinfo ] ]Ideology
As a classical liberal party, the FDP generally opposes state intervention in social and economic affairs. Based on its conception of the individual as free, sovereign and self-responsible, it rejects notions of a
welfare state and paternalist regulation that became common in Liberalism in other European countries in the late nineteenth century. The FDP professes faith in thefree market ,free trade , economicderegulation and therule of law .As regards specific issues, it is often labeled progressive with regard to social policy, supporting e.g. the legalisation of
soft drugs and legal recognition forsame-sex couples . In economic policy, it generally favors reduced government spending, tax cuts and a flexible labour market. However, like most other Swiss parties it has no tradition of strong central leadership or ideological unity, and consequently the views of its individual representatives or functionaries vary considerably across the rough center of the political spectrum.The FDP is often considered to be closely associated with Swiss business interests, in particular
bank s andpharmaceutical companies . In the eyes of its detractors on the Right, this has caused it to abandon its liberal values at times, e.g. by its support of import protection formedicine or of the expensive 2002 government bailout of the failing national airline,Swissair .Popular support
In 2003, it held 36 mandates (out of 200) in the
Swiss National Council (first chamber of the Swiss parliament); 14 (out of 46) in the second chamber and 2 out of 7 mandates in theSwiss Federal Council (executive body). By 2005, it hold 27,2% of the seats in the SwissCantonal governments and 19,7% in the SwissCantonal parliaments (index "BADAC", weighted with the population and number of seats). At the lastlegislative elections, 22 October 2007, the party won 15.6 % of the popular vote and 31 out of 200 seats. [ [http://www.politik-stat.ch/nrw2007CH_de.html Nationalrat 2007 ] ]Presidents
*1978-1984
Yann Richter , Neuchâtel
*1984-1989Bruno Hunziker ,Aargau
*1989-2001Franz Steinegger , Uri
*2001-2002Gerold Bührer , Schaffhausen
*2002-2004Christiane Langenberger ,Vaud
*2004-2004Rolf Schweiger , Zug
*since 2005Fulvio Pelli , Ticinoee also
*
Liberalism
*Contributions to liberal theory
*Liberalism worldwide
*List of liberal parties
*Liberal democracy
*Liberalism and radicalism in Switzerland References
External links
* [http://www.fdp.ch/ Free Democratic Party] official site (in German)
* [http://www.prd.ch/ Free Democratic Party] official site (in French)
* [http://www.jungfreisinnige.ch/ Young Liberals Switzerland] official site of the youth branch, called jungfreisinnige schweiz (in German/French)
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