On the History of the Landtag Brandenburg

After German reunification and the foundation of the Land of Brandenburg, the Landtag Brandenburg convened for its first constituent session on 26 October 1990. However, as its name suggests, it was not Brandenburg’s first Land parliament: Shortly after the Second World War, there had already been a corresponding people’s representation from 1946 on – first in the Soviet Occupation Zone (SOZ), then in the GDR. However, this Landtag gradually relinquished its functions to the central state. It was dissolved in 1952.

Since 1990, the Landtag has had six electoral terms with varying compositions and government majorities:

1st electoral term (1990–1994):
Parliamentary groups represented in the Landtag: SPD, CDU, PDS-LL, FDP, ALLIANCE 90
Governing parties: SPD, FDP, ALLIANCE 90
President of the Landtag: Dr Herbert Knoblich (SPD)
Minister-President: Dr h. c. mult. Manfred Stolpe (SPD)

2nd electoral term (1994–1999):
Parliamentary groups represented in the Landtag: SPD, CDU, PDS
Governing party: SPD
President of the Landtag: Dr Herbert Knoblich (SPD)
Minister-President: Dr h. c. mult. Manfred Stolpe (SPD)

3rd electoral term (1999–2004):
Parliamentary groups represented in the Landtag: SPD, CDU, PDS, DVU
Governing parties: SPD, CDU
President of the Landtag: Dr Herbert Knoblich (SPD)
Minister-Presidents: Dr h. c. mult. Manfred Stolpe (SPD, 1999-2002), Matthias Platzeck (SPD, 2002-2004)

4th electoral term (2004–2009):
Parliamentary groups represented in the Landtag: SPD, PDS, CDU, DVU
Governing parties: SPD, CDU
President of the Landtag: Gunter Fritsch (SPD)
Minister-President: Matthias Platzeck (SPD)

5th electoral term (2009–2014):
Parliamentary groups represented in the Landtag: SPD, THE LEFT, CDU, FDP, ALLIANCE 90/THE GREENS
Governing parties: SPD, THE LEFT
President of the Landtag: Gunter Fritsch (SPD)
Minister-Presidents: Matthias Platzeck (SPD, 2009-2013), Dr Dietmar Woidke (SPD, 2013-2014).

6th electoral term (2014–2019):
Parliamentary groups represented in the Landtag: SPD, CDU, THE LEFT, AfD, ALLIANCE 90/THE GREENS as well as the smaller parliamentary group BVB / FREE VOTERS (2014-2017)
Governing parties: SPD, THE LEFT
President of the Landtag: Britta Stark (SPD)
Minister-President: Dr Dietmar Woidke (SPD)

7th electoral term (since 2019):
Parliamentary groups represented in the Landtag: SPD, AfD, CDU, ALLIANCE 90/THE GREENS, THE LEFT, BVB / FREE VOTERS
Governing parties: SPD, CDU, ALLIANCE 90/THE GREENS
President of the Landtag: Prof Dr Ulrike Liedtke
Minister-President: Dr Dietmar Woidke

Between 1991 and 2013, the Landtag had its seat in the building of a former cadet school on Potsdam’s Brauhausberg. In 2005, due to the insufficient functionality of the building, the parliament decided to move to a new building in Potsdam’s city centre.