Germany’s bulging Bundestag Chancellors Konrad Adenauer 1949-63 Ludwig Erhard 1963-66 Kurt Georg Kiesinger 1966-69 Willy Brandt 1969-74 Helmut Schmidt 1974-82 Helmut Kohl 1982-98 Gerhard Schröder 1998-2005 Angela Merkel 2005-2021 CDU/CSU (Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union) SPD (Social Democratic Party) FDP (Free Democratic Party) Greens Die Linke (Left) AfD (Alternative for Germany) Others (inc. Deutsche Partei, Bayernpartei, Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands) Coalitions CDU-led SPD-led CDU-led SPD-led CDU-led Bundestag seat distribution (at beginning of each session) 402 487 497 499 496 496 496 496 497 498 497 662 672 669 603 614 622 631 709 735 80 45 17 94 83 139 243 270 242 245 242 225 243 226 244 223 319 294 245 248 226 239 311 246 196 52 48 41 67 49 30 41 39 53 34 46 79 47 43 47 61 93 FDP 0 80 92 27 42 8 49 47 55 51 68 63 67 118 131 151 169 190 202 224 230 214 218 193 186 239 252 298 251 222 146 193 153 206 17 30 36 2 54 76 64 69 39 SSW 1 1949 1953 1957 1961 1965 1969 1972 1976 1980 1983 1987 1990 1994 1998 2002 2005 2009 2013 2017 2021 1949: Formation of Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) 1972: Just over 90% of West Germany’s electorate of 40.6 million votes in snap election before parliament has run its full term – first time since 1949. Also first time that 18-year-olds have right to vote 1982: SPD-FDP coalition falls apart following vote of no confidence. Helmut Kohl’s CDU takes power without elections 1990: Reunification of West and East Germany – increase in number of seats 1990: Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS) emerges from ruling Socialist Unity Party of East Germany 2007: PDS merges with left-wing WASG to form Die Linke 2013: Germany passes new election law to help small parties. AfD wins 4.7% of votes – just missing 5% barrier to enter Bundestag Source: Informationen des Bundeswahlleiters, Ergebnisse früherer Bundestagswahlen Pictures: Associated Press, Deutsches Bundesarchiv, Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS