Free Democratic Party of Switzerland
| Founded | 1894 |
|---|---|
| Dissolved | 1 January 2009 |
| Merged into | FDP. The Liberals |
| Headquarters | Neuengasse 20 Postfach 6136 CH-3001 Bern |
| Ideology | Liberalism (Switzerland) Classical liberalism Conservative liberalism |
| Political position | Centre-right |
| European affiliation | European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party |
| International affiliation | International Entente of Radical and Similar Democratic Parties (before 1938) Liberal International (after 1947) |
| Colours | Azure |
The Free Democratic Party (German: Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei, FDP; Romansh: Partida liberaldemocrata svizra, PLD), also called Radical Democratic Party (French: Parti radical-démocratique, PRD; Italian: Partito liberale-radicale svizzero, PLR) was a liberal political party in Switzerland. Formerly one of the major parties in Switzerland, on 1 January 2009 it merged with the Liberal Party of Switzerland to form FDP. The Liberals.
The FDP was formed in 1894 from the Radicals, who had dominated Swiss politics since the 1830s, standing in opposition to the Catholic conservatives, and who from the creation of the federal state in 1848 until 1891 formed the federal government.
The FDP remained dominant until the introduction of proportional representation in 1919. From 1945 to 1987, it alternated with the Social Democratic Party to be the largest party. In 1959, the party took two seats in the magic formula. The party declined in the 1990s and 2000s (decade), as it was put under pressure by the Swiss People's Party. In response, the party formed closer relations with the smaller Liberal Party, leading to their formal merger in 2009.