Young Liberals

Young Liberals, commonly known by its German name Junge Liberale or the abbreviation JuLis, is a political youth organisation in Germany and the officially recognised youth wing of the Free Democratic Party (FDP). Although it is institutionally associated with the FDP, the organisation is financially and organisationally independent. This independence allows JuLis to develop positions, adopt resolutions and conduct political activities with a degree of autonomy from the party's formal structures. The organisation was founded in 1980. In its early period, the FDP's youth organisation was the Jungdemokraten, or Young Democrats. JuLis became the FDP's officially recognised youth wing in 1983, establishing the organisational relationship that continues today. Its work combines internal political education and youth participation with advocacy on liberal policy questions in Germany and Europe. JuLis' policy outlook broadly overlaps with that of the FDP, but the organisation can differ from the party on particular questions and policy details. Its stated political priorities include civil liberties, political freedom, individual responsibility, equal opportunity and a reduction of unnecessary state intervention. Economically, it supports a market-based order and an ecologically sustainable social market economy. At the same time, it assigns the state responsibility for core functions such as protecting competition and preventing economic cartels. This profile places the organisation within the liberal tradition while giving particular emphasis to younger generations, constitutional freedoms and long-term social and ecological sustainability. The organisation's principal policy statement is titled "Humanistic Liberalism – Thought for the Future." It was adopted in 2008 as a revision of the 1994 policy statement. The document is supplemented by democratic resolutions adopted at regular congresses, allowing JuLis' policy platform to evolve through internal debate and formal member participation. JuLis reports approximately 15,000 members, a figure that places it among Germany's largest political youth organisations and, according to the referenced description, makes it the country's third-largest youth organisation. Its national leadership is headed by a federal chairperson. Finn Flebbe is identified as chairman from 2025 onward, following Franziska Brandmann's term from 2021 to 2025. Internationally, Young Liberals participates in liberal youth networks. It is a full member of the European Liberal Youth (LYMEC), the pan-European umbrella organisation for liberal youth groups, and serves as Germany's member organisation in the International Federation of Liberal Youth (IFLRY). These affiliations connect JuLis with liberal youth organisations beyond Germany and provide channels for European and international policy cooperation.

Young Liberals was established in Germany in 1980 as a liberal youth organisation connected to the Free Democratic Party. At that time, the FDP's youth organisation was the Jungdemokraten, or Young Democrats. JuLis became the FDP's officially recognised youth wing in 1983, while retaining financial and organisational independence from the party. The organisation's political identity has developed alongside, but not always identically to, that of the FDP. JuLis broadly shares the party's liberal orientation, yet its members can adopt distinct positions on specific issues. Its programme emphasises civil liberties, political freedom, self-responsibility and equal opportunity. In economic and social policy, it advocates a market economy within an ecologically sustainable social market framework. It supports limiting government activity to core competences, while recognising the need for the state to safeguard competition and prevent cartels. JuLis' principal policy document is "Humanistic Liberalism – Thought for the Future." Adopted in 2008, it revised a 1994 policy statement and provides a broad conceptual framework for the organisation's positions. Regular democratic resolutions adopted at congresses supplement this programme and provide a mechanism for members to address current political questions. The organisation has been led by a succession of federal chairpersons, including Guido Westerwelle, Daniel Bahr, Johannes Vogel, Konstantin Kuhle, Ria Schröder, Jens Teutrine and Franziska Brandmann. Finn Flebbe is identified as chairperson from 2025. JuLis reports approximately 15,000 members and is described as Germany's third-largest youth organisation. Beyond Germany, JuLis is integrated into liberal youth networks. It is a full member of the European Liberal Youth, known as LYMEC, and represents Germany within the International Federation of Liberal Youth, or IFLRY. These memberships give the organisation a role in European and international cooperation among liberal youth movements.

• 2025

  Finn Flebbe becomes chairperson

  [1]Young Liberals (Germany)en.wikipedia.org

  Finn Flebbe is identified as the organisation's chairperson from 2025.

• 2008

  Humanistic Liberalism policy statement

  [1]Young Liberals (Germany)en.wikipedia.org

  JuLis adopted the revised policy statement titled "Humanistic Liberalism – Thought for the Future."

• 1994

  Earlier policy statement adopted

  [1]Young Liberals (Germany)en.wikipedia.org

  The organisation adopted the policy statement that was later revised by its 2008 programme.

• 1983

  Recognised as the FDP youth wing

  [1]Young Liberals (Germany)en.wikipedia.org

  JuLis became the officially recognised youth organisation of the Free Democratic Party, replacing the Jungdemokraten in that role.

• 1980

  Organisation founded

  [1]Young Liberals (Germany)en.wikipedia.org

  The Young Liberals were founded in Germany as a liberal political youth organisation.

A financially and organisationally independent liberal youth organisation associated with the Free Democratic Party, positioned around civil liberties, individual responsibility, equal opportunity, market economics and an ecologically sustainable social market economy.

• Policy programme · 2008

  Humanistic Liberalism – Thought for the Future

  The principal policy statement of Young Liberals. Adopted in 2008 as a revision of a 1994 statement, it presents the organisation's liberal principles, including civil liberties, individual responsibility, equal opportunity, market economics and an ecologically sustainable social market economy. Congress resolutions supplement the document and allow the policy platform to develop over time.

1. 1Young Liberals (Germany)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2Young Liberals official websitejulis.de