As the Federal Election approaches on February 23, 2025, interest in smaller political parties has surged, especially since the launch of the Wahl-O-Mat on February 6. Among these parties is the Animal Protection Party (Tierschutzpartei), which emphasizes animal welfare, environmental sustainability, and social justice.

What is the Animal Protection Party?

The full name of the party is the Partei Mensch Umwelt Tierschutz, founded on February 13, 1993, in Bonn. It currently has approximately 2,406 members and is led by co-chairs Bernd Kriebel, Dennis Landgraf, and Paula López Vicente. The party is classified as left-liberal, ecological, and pacifist, focusing on policy issues primarily related to animal rights and environmental protection.

Recent Performance and Representation

Currently, the Animal Protection Party has representation at the municipal level in Germany. In the 2024 European Parliament elections, the party garnered 1.4% of the vote, securing one seat in the European Parliament. The last federal election in 2021 saw the party achieve its highest result to date, with 1.5% of the votes.

Key Objectives for the 2025 Election

For the upcoming federal election, the Animal Protection Party has outlined several critical priorities:

• Ending factory farming and banning animal testing
• Prohibiting recreational hunting and private fireworks
• Enhancing public transport systems
• Expanding renewable energy sources
• Introducing a speed limit of 130 km/h on highways
• Implementing a minimum wage of EUR15 by 2026
• Establishing a nationwide rent cap
• Redirecting military expenditures towards education, environmental, and social initiatives
• Committing to global climate protection targets
• Implementing a windfall tax for corporations
• Strengthening lobbying regulations and enhancing political transparency

For a detailed overview, the party's election program is available for review.

Where to Vote for the Animal Protection Party

The Animal Protection Party will be participating in the federal election across eleven federal states, including Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, and Saxony. A complete list of all parties running in the 2025 elections can be found on the official election website.

Conclusion

The Animal Protection Party aims to amplify its voice in the upcoming election, focusing on critical social and environmental issues that resonate with a growing number of voters concerned about animal rights and ecological sustainability.