What does "Free State of Bavaria" mean?

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Everyone should be familiar with the fact that Bavaria - just like Thuringia and Saxony - is a Free State. But what does the term Free State mean and what distinguishes these three countries from the other federal states?

Germany is divided into 16 federal states. 10 of them are referred to as the federal state. Two of the three city-states are called "Free Hanseatic City of Bremen" and "Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg". And three call themselves a "Free State", namely Bavaria, Thuringia and Saxony. But what does it mean for Bavaria, for example, to be a Free State?

This is what the term "Free State" means

  • Free state actually means nothing more than "republic". From a political point of view, there is no difference between a Free State and a federal state.
  • The term goes back to the 19th Century back and denoted states that were not subject to the monarchical form of government. At the time of the Weimar Republic between 1918 and 1933, the states were called "Free State" or "People's State".
  • After the end of the Second World War in 1945, the term was used by the CSU so that Bavaria established itself as a special country in the minds of the population.

The legal position of Bavaria in the Federal Republic

  • Despite the above designation of the Free State, Bavaria has no special position compared to the other states. All 16 federal states are bound by the same constitution.
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  • Bavaria even underlines its supposed independence through its regional party. If in the rest of Germany there is talk of the CDU, it is called CSU in Bavaria. The Christian Social Union (CSU) is practically the sister party to the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
  • From a political point of view, Bavaria likes to hit the headlines, as the state government regularly comes up with legislative proposals that spark lively discussions in the rest of the state.

The name of the Free State of Bavaria may have a historical background, but it is and remains a country full of hearty cosiness. And if you're sitting in a tavern with a pretzel and a Maß, the name of the country probably doesn't matter.

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