Alliance 90

Alliance 90 is a German political party that emerged in the late 20th century, closely associated with the East German civil rights movement and the Peaceful Revolution that led to German reunification. The party's roots are tied to figures like Lutheran pastor Rainer Eppelmann, who played a significant role in the Monday Demonstrations in Leipzig, and Barbel Bohley, a key figure in the Neues Forum movement. Alliance 90 worked closely with other opposition groups, including the Initiative for Peace and Human Rights and the Democratic Awakening, to bring about democratic change in East Germany.

● History

The history of Alliance 90 is deeply intertwined with the events leading up to the Fall of the Berlin Wall and the subsequent reunification of Germany. Key figures such as Jens Reich, a biophysicist and one of the founders of the Neues Forum, and Sebastian Pflugbeil, who was involved in the East German dissident movement, contributed to the party's formation. Alliance 90 drew support from various segments of the East German population, including Lutheran Church members, environmentalists, and human rights activists, such as Vera Wollenberger and Bärbel Bohley. The party's early days were marked by cooperation with other East German opposition groups, including the Social Democratic Party in the GDR and the Green Party in the GDR, to challenge the Communist-led Government of East Germany.

● Formation and Merger

The formation of Alliance 90 was a result of the merger between the East German civil rights movement groups, including the Neues Forum, Demokratischer Aufbruch, and the Initiative für Frieden und Menschenrechte. This merger was facilitated by figures like Friedrich Schorlemmer, a theologian and dissident, and Konrad Weiß, a theologian who was involved in the East German peace movement. In 1993, Alliance 90 merged with The Greens (Germany), a West German green party founded by Petra Kelly and Joseph Beuys, among others, to form Alliance 90/The Greens. This merger was significant, as it brought together environmentalists, peace activists, and human rights advocates from both East and West Germany, including notable figures like Antje Vollmer and Christa Nickels.

● Ideology

The ideology of Alliance 90 is rooted in democratic socialism, environmentalism, and human rights. The party's platform was influenced by the East German dissident movement and the Peaceful Revolution, with key principles including grassroots democracy, ecological sustainability, and social justice. Alliance 90's ideology is closely aligned with that of The Greens (Germany), with whom they merged, and shares similarities with other European green parties, such as the Green Party of England and Wales and the Green Party (Ireland). The party's commitment to human rights and democratic values is reflected in its support for organizations like Amnesty International and the European Court of Human Rights.

● Organization

The organization of Alliance 90, now part of Alliance 90/The Greens, is characterized by a decentralized and participatory structure, with a strong emphasis on grassroots democracy and member participation. The party has a federal structure, with state associations in each of the German states, such as Baden-Württemberg and North Rhine-Westphalia. Alliance 90/The Greens is a member of the European Green Party and the Global Greens, and has ties to international organizations like the United Nations Environment Programme and the European Union.

● Electoral Performance

The electoral performance of Alliance 90, both as an independent party and as part of Alliance 90/The Greens, has been significant in shaping German politics. In the 1990 East German general election, Alliance 90 won 12 seats in the Volkskammer, the East German parliament. After the merger with The Greens (Germany), the combined party, Alliance 90/The Greens, has consistently won seats in the Bundestag, the German federal parliament, with notable performances in elections like the 1998 German federal election and the 2013 German federal election. The party has also had success in European Parliament elections, such as the 1999 European Parliament election and the 2019 European Parliament election, with European Green Party candidates like Ska Keller and Reinhard Bütikofer.