The Power of the Elderly. Motives, Opportunities and Chances of Participation for Elderly Party Members Within the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Green Party (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) in Germany

The share of older people in population is already high and it is still rising in Germany. What does this mean for the political influence and for the opportunities of participation for elderly party members within the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Green Party (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)? Why do they take part in these political parties and with which problems are they faced within these parties and within the working groups for elderly party members (AG SPD 60plus and Die Grünen Alten)? First results show that members of AG SPD 60plus and Die Grünen Alten are skeptical about the influence of their working group and elderly members in general. Last but not least opportunities of participation and political influence of the elderly party members appear to be addicted to the level of integration of the working groups into the parties and to the financial and human resources.