Social Democratic Party of Saarland

The Socialist Party of the Saar ( abbreviation: PLC) was a political party in the autonomous Saarland, which existed in the period 1946-1956 under the protection of France. The party program corresponded substantially to the SPD in West Germany, saar but politically represented the PLC economic union with France ( Economic and Monetary Union) in internal autonomy. The party organ of the PLC was the voice of the people.

Foundation

The PLC was founded unofficially the end of October 1945 in the back room of a restaurant in Saarbrücken; Chairman of the later member of parliament George Schulte was determined. Since at this time from the French occupation authorities no party foundations were admitted, it was not until the 6th of January 1946 until the PLC was officially set up in a founding congress; Richard Kirn chairman was elected.

Political content

At the beginning of the French occupation of the Saarland, the final policy of France was unclear over the Saar. It was generally expected - would take an annexation of the Saarland by France - in 1941 similar to the German approach towards Alsace -Lorraine. Due to the difficult supply situation for the years 1945 and 1946, there were not a few supporters of such a solution, which mainly promised a better food supply by doing so in the Saarland. For a connection of the Saarland to France entered the organization Mouvement pour le Rattachement de la Sarre à la France (MRS ) was established in 1945, which are to be joined 100,000 Saarland temporarily (about 15 % of the former Saar population). The PLC together with the increased CVP and at this time the DPS, however, pursued a policy which should indeed achieve the benefits of an economic connection of the Saarland to France, but should get the autonomy of the region. After some hesitation and a massive change of mind of the other Western Allies about connection, France joined in this view.

The PLC decided this policy on April 6, 1946. In the 20-member Constitutional Commission of the Saarland, the PLC was represented by five members; Vice- President of the Commission was the PLC Chairman Richard Kirn. In the election for Constituent Assembly of the Saarland, which should be transformed to the Constitution in the first parliament after approval, the PLC received 32.8 % of votes and 17 of the 50 seats. The turnout was 95.7 %. The Constitutional Assembly agreed with 48 of the 50 votes of the Saarland new constitution that provided the economic connection to France and the autonomy of the Saarland. Only the Communist Party rejected the Constitution.

The PLC was represented in the Cabinet Hoffmann I by the Minister of Labour and Welfare Richard Kirn and the Minister of Justice Heinz Braun to April 1951. After the transition was followed in the opposition, to III, the two ministers took their seats in the Cabinet Hoffmann of 23 December 1952 to July 17, 1954 again. On 17 July 1954, the coalition with the CVP broke about domestic political disputes over the Works Constitution Act. Saar Politically, however, the PLC remained in their positions.

In the second state election, 1952, the SPS was able to maintain its position, and 32.4 % of the valid votes cast and in turn win 17 seats. The turnout was 93.1 %; However, 24% of ballots cast "white" or invalid. The growing prosperity in the newly established Federal Republic and the common cultural roots on one side and partially chaotic French domestic politics, exacerbated by economic problems and the Algerian War and Vietnam conflict ( Battle of Dien Bien Phu ), on the other hand difficult increasingly the policy of autonomous Saar government, fearing a substantial burden of reconciliation between France and Germany in the event of a policy change.

During the year 1954 there were negotiations between France and Germany in consultation with the Saar Government to a contract for a European Saar Statute. The autonomy of the Saarland should be maintained, will Saarbrücken seat of European institutions such as the Euro Europe, the Coal and Steel Community, and the Western European Union ( WEU). The economic relations between Saarland and France are to be supplemented by similar relations with the Federal Republic. Here About the Saarland people should be consulted in a referendum; The establishment of " German " parties was first allowed. In response, the CDU Saar, the German Social Democratic Party ( DSP) and the DPS, which was banned in 1951 because of anti-constitutional activities ( requirement of connection to the Federal Republic) founded, and joined together in the so-called Heritage Association.

The referendum campaign was conducted with extraordinary hardness and diverse personal attacks, an observer mission of the WEU succeeded in maintaining an orderly vote struggle with difficulty. After the vote, the WEU had to set up an extraordinary Court on the Saar, which was taken several times by the former enemies to complete.

The resolution

With the October referendum, the Saarland population spoke out against the European Saar Statute. On the night of October 23, 1955, the former CVP- Hoffmann government resigned (Cabinet Hoffmann IV).

The PLC went on in the SPD Saarland together with the DSP. On March 18, 1956, she decided her own resolution.