Wikipedia

Party of Humanists

Not to be confused with Humanist Party.

The Party of Humanists (German: Partei der Humanisten) is a minor political party in Germany that first participated in the 2017 federal election.[4] It is considered left-of-centre and supports socially liberal and secular policies, such as a federal European state, openness towards technologies such as stem cell research and strict separation between state and religion.[5] The party contested the 2017 and 2021 federal elections, the 2019 European elections and numerous state elections from 2018 onwards. It also contested the 2024 European Parliament election in Germany.[6]

Party of Humanists
Partei der Humanisten
AbbreviationPdH
ChairpersonFelicitas Klings[1]
General SecretarySascha Klughardt[1]
Founded4 October 2014; 10 years ago (2014-10-04)
HeadquartersBeilsteiner Str. 21, 12681 Berlin
Membership (September 2024)Increase 2,350+[2]
IdeologySecular humanism
Secular liberalism
Social liberalism[3]
Civil libertarianism
Progressivism
Political positionCentre-left[3]
Colours
  •   Blue-magenta
  •   White
  •   Light blue
  •   Magenta
Bundestag
0 / 630
State Parliaments
0 / 1,821
European Parliament
0 / 96
Website
pdh.eu

History

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In spring 2012, the Facebook group "Initiative Humanismus" created the "Manifesto of the Initiative Humanismus", which was to serve as the basis for a humanist party. The Party of Humanists was founded on the basis of this document on 4 October 2014 in Berlin.[7][8] The provisional executive committee consisted of eight spokespersons for various subject areas.[9]

At the first ordinary federal party conference in March 2015, David Helmus was elected as the party's first chairman.[10] Beka Kobaidze served as secretary general, while Ioana Hauke took over as treasurer. According to the chairman, the party had around 75 members in September of the same year.[11]

The Berlin regional association was founded on 2 April 2016.[12] A few months later, the regional associations of Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia and Baden-Württemberg were founded.[13][14] Shortly afterwards, in February of the following year, the Bavarian state association was also founded.[15]

On 21 March 2017, the Party held a joint press conference along with the Pirate Party Germany, the Liberal Democrats, the New Liberals, the Transhuman Party Germany, and the youth organization of The Left to announce a "socialliberale proclamation" and better cooperation among the participating organizations.[16][17][18][19][20]

In the 2017 German federal election, the Humanist Party took part in an election for the first time, although it was initially only electable in North Rhine-Westphalia. For this purpose, various teams were set up within the party, which now has around 600 members, for internal party organisation.[21] In the election, the party received 5.991 second votes.[22] After the federal election, the party received an influx of new members. As a result, state associations were founded in Hamburg and Lower Saxony in the same year, as well as state associations in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Rhineland-Palatinate, Bremen and Schleswig-Holstein in 2018.[23][24]

In January 2019, Steven Pinker was accepted onto the advisory board of the Humanist Party. One month later, in February 2019, Michael Shermer, founder of the American Skeptics Society, also became a member of the advisory board.[25][26]

The Humanist Party was registered for the European elections on 15 March 2019, in which it took part with its lead candidate Robin Thiedmann. It achieved 0.2% of 62,604 votes, but missed out on a place in the European Parliament.[27] In 2021, the last four state associations, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Thuringia and Saarland were founded.[28][29] Shortly after the founding of the Brandenburg state association, the party celebrated its new size of 1800 members.[30] In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the first digital federal party conference was held on 29 January and 20 February 2022.

In April 2023, 19-year-old Lasse Schäfer was elected as the new national chairman. This makes him the youngest party chairman in Germany.[31]

Party platform

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The underlying ideology is evolutionary humanism.[32] The core themes of the Humanist Party are science and education, the right of self-determination of the individual, and secularization.[33] For example, the party supports the liberal and self-responsible use of drugs,[34] supports legal voluntary euthanasia[35][36] and is against circumcision of children.[37] The party also supports the implementation of universal basic income.[33] The party is considered left of the political centre.[3]

Currently, the Party of Humanists is the only party in Germany that specifically targets non-religious people, freethinkers, and atheists as voters.[38]

Programme

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Health and science

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  • Compulsory health insurance should only cover evidence based medicine, not pseudomedicine such as homeopathy
  • Legalization of active euthanasia under specific circumstances
  • Legalization of all drugs, but only for adults and with more prevention measures such as education, drug-checking, regulated production and sale[39]
  • Openness towards new technology and impartial assessment of the harms benefits, e. g. with respect to genome editing[40] and stem cell research
  • Reduction of antibiotic use in livestock farming in order to avoid emerging resistances
  • Funding for in-vitro-meat research

EU and military

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  • Founding of a united European Federal Republic. Today's national states shall be converted into strong sovereign regions.[41]
  • Rejection of a compulsory military service year for young adults
  • Establishing a united European military

Economy

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  • Simplification of the tax system by eliminating exemptions as well as cutback on unnecessary subsidies
  • Deregulation of shop opening hours on Sundays
  • Trialing and implementation of universal basic income

Climate

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Social topics

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Freedom of speech and the Internet

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Religion

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"No caliphate" campaign poster of PdH in the June 2024 EU Parliament election
  • Complete separation of church and state
  • Introduction of unified ethics education instead of compulsory religious education in schools[42]
  • Removing references to god from the constitution and other laws
  • Prohibition of medically not-indicated religious circumcision in children unable to consent

Leadership

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Felicitas Klings has led the party since July 2024

Since 15 July 2024, the party's leadership has consisted of:[1]

  • Felicitas Klings (Party Leader)
  • Sascha Klughardt (General Secretary)
  • Narek Avetisyan (Treasurer)

Federal executive board

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The party's federal executive board is made up of:[1]

  • Ole Teschke
  • Dominic vice
  • Josephine Keller
  • Andreas Stirner
  • Daniel Keye
  • Dr. Jochen Sieck
  • Manuel Cran
  • Ricardo Reitz

Federal state parties

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Federal state party Date of Founding Chairman Last state election participation Last country-wide election participation
  Baden-Württemberg 3 December 2016 Mario Caraggiu[43] 2021 Baden-Württemberg state election 2021 German federal election
  Bavaria 11 February 2017 Frederic Forkel 2018 Bavarian state election 2021 German federal election
  Berlin[44] 2 April 2017 Barend Wolf 2021 Berlin state election 2021 German federal election
  Brandenburg 13 March 2021 Tim Ewert - 2021 German federal election
  Bremen[45] 9 June 2018 Julia Kreitz 2019 Bremen state election 2021 German federal election
  Hamburg[46] 1 October 2017 Michael Brandt 2020 Hamburg state election 2021 German federal election
  Hesse[47] 25 September 2016 Dennis Wörner 2018 Hessian state election 2021 German federal election
  Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 24 May 2021 Tom Kühnel 2021 Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state election 2021 German federal election
  Lower Saxony[48] 25 November 2017 Rainer Rößler - 2021 German federal election
  North Rhine-Westphalia 22 October 2016 Leonard Niesik - 2021 German federal election
  Rhineland-Palatinate 15 April 2018 Tristan Marsell - 2021 German federal election
  Saarland[49] 20 November 2021 Fabian Grünewald - 2019 European Parliament election
  Saxony 7 January 2018 Jonas Lehn 2019 Saxony state election 2021 German federal election
  Saxony-Anhalt 31 March 2018 Konstantin Zisiadis 2021 Saxony-Anhalt state election 2021 German federal election
  Schleswig-Holstein 20 October 2018 Marvin Weidemeier 2022 Schleswig-Holstein state election 2021 German federal election
  Thuringia 29 May 2021 Anthony Ramstedt - 2021 German federal election

Election results

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European Parliament

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Election List leader Votes % Seats +/– EP Group
2019 Robin Thiedmann 62,604 0.17 (#26)
0 / 96
 New –
2024 Sascha Boelcke 82,275 0.21 (#23)
0 / 96
   0

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Bundesvorstand". pdh.eu. Party of Humanists. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  2. ^ "Tu es, es wird dich bereichern!". pdh.eu. Party of Humanists. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Partei der Humanisten". web.de (in German). 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024. Die Partei der Humanisten ist im politischen Links- und Sozialliberalen Spektrum anzusiedeln.
  4. ^ "Partei der Humanisten". Zdf.de. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  5. ^ "Partei der Humanisten". web.de (in German). 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  6. ^ "Partei der Humanisten" (in German). Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  7. ^ ""Partei der Humanisten" gegründet". Hpd.de. 7 October 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  8. ^ "Pressemitteilung zur Gründung – Partei der Humanisten". Parteiderhumanisten.de. 8 October 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  9. ^ "Partei der Humanisten gegründet" (in German). Humanistischer Pressedienst. 7 October 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  10. ^ "Gremien der Partei der Humanisten gewählt" (in German). Humanistischer Pressedienst. 17 March 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  11. ^ "In allen anderen Parteien wären wir noch die Jugendorganisation" (in German). Humanistischer Pressedienst. September 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  12. ^ "Landesverband der Partei der Humanisten gegründet" (in German). Humanistischer Pressedienst. 4 April 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  13. ^ "Landesverband in Hessen gegründet" (in German). Humanistischer Pressedienst. 28 September 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  14. ^ "Partei der Humanisten gründet Landesverband in Nordrhein-Westfalen" (in German). Humanistischer Pressedienst. 23 November 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  15. ^ "Partei der Humanisten Bayern wählter neuen Landesvorstand" (in German). Humanistischer Pressedienst. 24 April 2018. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  16. ^ ""Sozialliberale Offensive" in Berlin vorgestellt". Hpd.de. 22 March 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  17. ^ "Die Humanisten starten bundesweite sozialliberale Offensive – Partei der Humanisten". Parteiderhumanisten.de. 21 March 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  18. ^ "die Sozialliberalen". Die-sozialliberalen.de. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  19. ^ "Gemeinsame Erklärung: Sechs Parteien und Organisationen starten bundesweite sozialliberale Offensive › Piratenpartei Deutschland". Piratenpartei.de. 21 March 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  20. ^ "Live Pressekonferenz » Neue Liberale". Neueliberale.org. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  21. ^ "Zwischenbilanz humanistischer Politik" (in German). Humanistischer Pressedienst. 23 November 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  22. ^ "Bundestagswahl 2017, Ergebnisse, Nordrhein-Westfalen" (in German). Die Bundeswahlleiterin. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  23. ^ "Partei der Humanisten gründet Landesverband in Rheinland-Pfalz" (in German). Humanistischer Pressedienst. 17 April 2018. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  24. ^ "Partei der Humanisten gründet Landesverband Schleswig-Holstein" (in German). SHZ. 21 October 2018. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  25. ^ "Facebook post" (in German). Partei der Humanisten. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  26. ^ "Beirat" (in German). Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  27. ^ "Europawahl 2019: Vorläufiges amtliches Ergebnis" (in German). Die Bundeswahlleiterin. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  28. ^ "Thüringen startklar machen!" (in German). Partei der Humanisten. 3 June 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  29. ^ "Hier kommt das Saarland (endlich)" (in German). Partei der Humanisten. 24 November 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  30. ^ "Wir feiern 1800 Mitglieder" (in German). Partei der Humanisten. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  31. ^ "19-jähriger Kölner ist jüngster Parteivorsitzender Deutschlands". Partei der Humanisten. 21 April 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  32. ^ "Mission Statement".
  33. ^ a b Bildung, Bundeszentrale für politische. "Partei der Humanisten - bpb". Bpb.de.
  34. ^ "Humanistischer Pressedienst - Legalize and Humanize it!". Hpd.de (in German). 13 July 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  35. ^ Siegler, bitzinger GmbH - Tobias. "DGHS - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Humanes Sterben - Partei der Humanisten". Dghs.de.
  36. ^ "Sterbehilfe – Das Recht auf das eigene Leben". Hpd.de. 5 November 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  37. ^ "Weltweiter Tag der genitalen Selbstbestimmung". Parteiderhumanisten.de. 6 May 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  38. ^ "Partei der Humanisten - "Politiker stellen sich gerne neben Religionsführer"". Deutschlandfunk.de. 8 March 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  39. ^ "Psychoaktive Substanzen (Themenabschnitt)". Partei der Humanisten (in German). 13 April 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  40. ^ "Gentechnik (Themenabschnitt)". Partei der Humanisten (in German). 11 April 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  41. ^ "Bundesrepublik Europa (Positionspapier)". Partei der Humanisten (in German). 13 April 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  42. ^ "Ethikunterricht (Themenabschnitt)". Partei der Humanisten (in German). 3 June 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  43. ^ @pdh_bw (22 November 2021). "Register" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  44. ^ "Landesverband der Partei der Humanisten gegründet". Hpd.de. 4 April 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  45. ^ "Partei der Humanisten". 11 August 2023.
  46. ^ "Partei der Humanisten gründet Hamburger Landesverband". Parteiderhumanisten.de. 1 October 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  47. ^ "Landesverband in Hessen gegründet". Hpd.de. 28 September 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  48. ^ "Partei der Humanisten". 11 August 2023.
  49. ^ "Hier kommt das Saarland (endlich)". Partei der Humanisten (in German). 24 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
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