Parteifunktionär

Parteifunktionär is a term used in German-speaking politics to denote a person who holds an official position within a political party. They are responsible for organizational, administrative and political tasks aimed at implementing the party's program and maintaining its structure. Unlike general party members, functionaries have defined duties and often hold a mandate, appointment, or office within the party's internal hierarchy.

Common roles include local chairpersons (Orts- or Gemeinde- and Kreisvorsitzende), secretaries, treasurers, and heads of committees or working groups. At higher levels, regional and national functionaries oversee strategy, fundraising, membership development, and coordination of campaigns. Functionaries may be elected by party conventions or appointed by higher bodies, and they are typically accountable to the party's governing organs such as boards or congresses.

Responsibilities typically include organizing meetings, managing communication and outreach, coordinating volunteers, handling logistics for campaigns, and ensuring compliance with party rules and financing regulations. In many parties, functionaries also participate in policy discussion and candidate selection processes.

Usage and connotations: In some contexts, the term can imply a professional, loyalist or bureaucratic role within the party, sometimes with a negative nuance. It is distinct from ordinary party members or activists who contribute without holding a formal office.

See also: Parteimitglied, Parteiführung, Politikbetrieb.