Our patron:  Dr. Hanns Seidel

Hanns Seidel – A Name for the Foundation

Dr. Hanns Seidel is among the prominent public figures who influenced German post-war history. He laid the foundations for the free, democratic and federalist framework of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Free State of Bavaria. He was also involved in developing the social market economy, therefore, contributing to economic upturn in Germany and Bavaria.

In his speeches, essays and books, Dr. Hanns Seidel completed in-depth studies of the role of the politician in a democratic state and the requirements of a Christian approach to politics. He developed elementary ideas on the significance of federalism in Germany and Europe, on the role of the social market economy, and on the function of opposition within the parliamentary system.

Dr. Hanns Seidel (1901-1961) – whom the foundation is named after – was among the founding fathers of the Christian Social Union (CSU) in 1945 and party chairman (1955-1961). He was first elected in 1946 to the Bavarian Landtag, appointed as Bavarian Minister of Economics (1947-1954) and was the Bavarian Minister-President (1957-1960).

In honour of Hanns Seidel and his life’s work in politics, the CSU-aligned foundation was named after him in 1967, the year in which the foundation was established.

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