The
Social Democrats on the other hand have never been a truly socialist party and even
while upholding the flag of socialism in the 50s they supported the legislation that
restored the ingrained fabric of the welfare state. The small liberal party, the Free
Democratic Party, which was in government for most of the postwar years alternating
between coalitions with the Christian Democrats and the Social Democrats, was
generally more critical of the welfare state but largely joined the general consensus in
practical politics. The Green Party, founded in 1980 and, since 1998, in a government
coalition with the Social Democrats, is an innovative pro-welfare-state-party with less
dogmatism than the traditional social democracy. Radical liberal critics of the welfare
state have always had a voice in the debate but only from the mid 90s did their views
gain a relevant weight.