West German Politics Today

Abstract

The 1969 election campaign commenced very early indeed. It could be said to have begun with the formation of the Grand Coalition in 1966. Certainly the knowledge that this coalition might come to an end as a result of the 1969 elections, that all parties had much to gain but also much at risk in that election, overshadowed political events in 1968. This gave rise to problems within the coalition, for both partners were anxious to be associated with the successes of the Government, but to implicate the other party in any failures and difficulties. The FDP began more strongly to seek a distinctive profile as a ‘third force’ rather than the reluctant, but fairly reliable, liberalising partner of the CDU. Its new leader, Scheel, and the influence of its young and active radical supporters were major factors in this development. By January 1969 it was publicising its new stance, in an effort to win early — and, perhaps, lasting — attention from the electorate. In March, for the first time since 1949, the election of a new President of the Federal Republic occurred in the same year as the Bundestag elections. The two candidates were Schröder (CDU) and Heinemann (SPD).