He stood for parliament for the liberal Federal Party.

ECONOMIST: Donald Woods

Quality and competition in German professions compare well with the rest of Europe, says Rolf Koschorrek, president of the Federal Association of Liberal Professions and a Bundestag member from Mrs Merkel's own party.

ECONOMIST: German services: Protected and inefficient | The

The Liberal Democrats are a federal party, with considerable autonomy allowed to different regions.

ECONOMIST: The Liberal Democrats