Ecological Democratic Party - Definition

The Ecological Democratic Party (German: Ökologisch-Demokratische Partei, ÖDP) is an environmentalist political party in Germany. It was founded in 1982 by former members of the German Green Party. The ÖDP combines issues which are not often found together: environmental and fair trade activism, a focus on state financial support for families and childrearing, and a belief in the right to life (that is, opposition to abortion, euthanasia and the death penalty). The latter positions -- and the differences listed below -- have led some, including political scientist Joachim Raschke, to characterize the party as "conservative," but the party feels that all these positions are a consistent response to injustice. In most of those issues which it emphasizes, such as the environment and trade, it is similar to the Green party. It differs from the Green party by being less supportive of immigration and restrictions on state powers in criminal justice issues, not focusing on gay and lesbian rights, and having a differing view of feminism.

Its main base is in the south of Germany, in the states of Bavaria and (to a lesser degree) Baden-Württemberg, though it has fielded candidates in many parts of the country.

It was one of the earliest supporters (since 1989) of a Green tax shift, an idea which later gained broader support and has been partially implemented in Germany since the SPD and Greens were elected to form the government in 1998.

Though a very small party -- it has not gained seats in a state parliament or in the national parliament -- the ÖDP became notable for its involvement in the opposition to a Czech nuclear reactor in Temelin, across the border from Bavaria. It led an initiative for a popular referendum to abolish the Bavarian Senate (that state's upper house) which was successful. It brought suit against a law in North Rhine-Westphalia which requires parties to receive 5% of the vote in order to take their seats, as well as a national law which reserves state financing only for parties that have members in at least three state legislatures; both laws were overturned.

The party has a youth organization called Junge Ökologen ("Young Ecologists").

Election results

State elections:

• Bavaria (2003) 2.0%
• Baden-Württemberg (2001) 0.7%
• Rhineland-Palatinate (2001) 0.3%
• Berlin (2001) 0.2%
• Thuringia (2004) 0.2%
• Hamburg (2004) 0.1%
• Hessen (1999) 0.1%
• Saxony-Anhalt (2002) 0.1%
• Lower Saxony (2003) 0.1%
• North Rhine-Westphalia (2000) 0.0%

European Parliament:

• 1984: 0.3%
• 1989: 0.7%
• 1994: 0.8%
• 1999: 0.4%
• 2004: 0.6%

German Parliament (Bundestag):

• 1983: 0.0%
• 1987: 0.3%
• 1990: 0.4%
• 1994: 0.4%
• 1998: 0.2%
• 2002: 0.1%

See also: List of political parties in Germany

External link

• Basic Program of the Ecological Democratic Party (in English) (http://www.oedp.de/download/gp/gp1_e.htm)