West German Election, 1965

Political Campaign in Federal Republic

For The First time in Germany's postwar history, the political “outs” of the Federal Republic are given a chance to win a national election—the contest to be held on September 19 for seats in West Germany's Bundestag or national assembly. The Christian Democrats, led until only two years ago by former Chancellor Adenauer, have dominated the government in Bonn since the Federal Republic came into being in 1949. During much of this period, the Christian Democratic Union and its Bavarian affiliate, the Christian Social Union,1 have governed in a coalition with one or more small parties. Since 1961 the junior partner in the coalition has been the Free Democratic Party, smallest of the political parties that are represented in the ...