About FES

The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) was founded in 1925 as a political legacy of Germany´s first democratically elected president, Friedrich Ebert.

Ebert, a Social Democrat from a humble crafts background who had risen to hold the highest political office in his country, in response to his own painful experience in political confrontation had proposed the establishment of a foundation. 

As a private non-profit institution, it is committed to the ideas and basic values of social democracy.

Social democracy is based on social human and civil rights and seeks to reinforce them. It broadens and consolidates the basis of political democracy by including social justice, democratisation of society, social security, sustainable development and international solidarity. Social democracy creates the conditions under which all citizens can fully exercise their fundamental human rights, participate fully unimpeded in society and contribute to the development of their country. It strives to secure equal opportunities in life and the right to have a say in the affairs of their community for all citizens, both men and women.

Social democracy is practiced democracy for every individual, including those who are socially vulnerable. In our globalising world, social democracy more than ever calls for solidarity and fairness. It is necessary to integrate a sense of political responsibility and social ecological regulations in the world community and the world market.

The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, which was banned by the Nazis in 1933 and re-established in 1947, continues today to pursue these values in all its extensive activities.