The Grassroots Democratic Party of Germany (, abbreviated ) is a political party in Germany. The declared aim of the party is to strengthen grassroots democracy in society and politics, as they consider that many areas of life are dominated by economic interests, profits, and fights for political power. During COVID-19 protests in Germany however, political scientists and media reports generally identified the party as primarily supported by lockdown opponents and campaigners against obligatory vaccination.
The party cannot be easily placed on the political spectrum. According to an investigation by RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland, its membership combines believers in alternative medicine and esotericism with those belonging to far-right conspiracy theorist groups such as Reichsbürger. A scientific study conducted by the University of Göttingen with the participation of Simon T. Franzmann, professor of democracy research, concludes that ‘dieBasis’ is not a ‘right-wing populist party’. Nor does its ‘clear anti-establishment orientation’ make it one.Nadine Kasten, Simon Franzmann: “'DieBasis: Partei der Unzufriedenen?”' Demokratie-Dialog, 12 pp. 23–34. doi:10.17875/gup2023-2369, 2023.
The party has never won any seats in the Bundestag, state Landtags or the European Parliament, but has achieved some mandates on the local level, for instance in Schleswig-Holstein,Statistik Nord: Informationen zu den Kommunalwahlen in Schleswig-Holstein am 14. Mai 2023. Weimar, JenaStadtratswahl 2024 in Thüringen – endgültiges Ergebnis (table Wahlübersicht): Kreisfreie Stadt 053 Stadt Jena; Kreisfreie Stadt 055 Stadt Weimar, both from wahlen.thueringen.de, Mai 2024. and Sachsen-Anhalt.Statistisches Landesamt Sachsen-Anhalt: Wahlergebnisse – Aktuelle Wahlergebnisse – kreisfreie Städte und Landkreise – BurgenlandkreisStatistisches Landesamt Sachsen-Anhalt: Wahlergebnisse – Aktuelle Wahlergebnisse – kreisfreie Städte und Landkreise – SaalekreisStatistisches Landesamt Sachsen-Anhalt: Wahlergebnisse – Aktuelle Wahlergebnisse – kreisfreie Städte und Landkreise – Kreisfreie Stadt Halle (Saale)Statistisches Landesamt Sachsen-Anhalt: Wahlergebnisse – Aktuelle Wahlergebnisse – Gemeinden – Lützen, StadtStatistisches Landesamt Sachsen-Anhalt: Wahlergebnisse – Aktuelle Wahlergebnisse – Gemeinden – Merseburg, StadtGemeinderatswahl in Naumburg: CDU und Sturm dominieren, einige neue Gesichter dabei. Mitteldeutsche Zeitung, 10. Juni 2014Stadt Weißenfels: Stadtratswahl Weißenfels, 10 June 2024.
History In the 2021 federal election, the party received 1.4% of the national vote (630,153 votes), winning more votes than other prominent minor German parties such as the Pirate Party and the National Democratic Party.
In the 2024 European parliament elections, the party received 0.3% of the national vote (99,502 votes), failing to win any seats in the European Parliament.
In the 2025 federal election, the party fell to 0.17% of the national vote (85,373 votes).
Election results
Federal Parliament (Bundestag) Election Constituency Party list Seats +/– Government Votes % Votes % 2021 735,451 1.59 (#9) 630,153 1.36 (#10) New 2025 41,903 0.08 (#16) 85,557 0.17 (#13) 0
European Parliament Election List leader Votes % Seats +/– EP Group 2024 Ellèn Hölzer 99,502 0.25 (#22) New –
See also MFG – Austria People – Freedom – Fundamental Rights
References