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[Errol]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_federal_election,_2009

So, yeah. Today, in Germany, the people will vote who gets to ru(i)n the country for the next four years. As I'm German, this is kind of a big deal for me. But, it should be something to consider for pretty much everyone in the world. Germany's still kind of a big player. Currently, the government consists of CDU and SPD, e.g. a great coalition, which is somewhat unstable, as it is to be expected.

Five major political parties are likely to enter the Bundestag once again. These are:

The CDU, which is the major conservative party and likely to gain the most seats, as their opposition either was too small to begin with or maneuvred themselves out of the race. The current federal chancellor, Angela Merkel, is also a member of this party and is their candidate for federal chancellor, who tried a strategy of smooth sailing.

The SPD, which is/was the major socialistic party, but lost a good deal of their popularity after unsuccessfully trying to form a government in a state by breaking a MAJOR promise, which in the end wasn't supported by its own members. They have little chance to win, and their best chance is a repeat of the current coalition, which would break apart in approx. two years according to sciencists. Their candidate for federal chancellor is Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the current vice-chancellor and foreign minister.

And now for the minor parties:

The Bündnis 90/Die Grünen, an ecological/social party which scores well with the upper middle class and ecologically concerned voters. They are likely to form a coalition with the SPD if it succeeded in gaining the majority, but that doesn't seem to be likely. Thanks to their unwieldy members they probably won't form a coalition with the CDU.

The FPD, the liberal party and the party of the economy. For an allegedly banker-oriented party they are predicted to score surprisingly well, and they are the likely partners of the CDU. Their chef, the (formerly) notorious Guido Westerwelle, denied a coalition with the SPD.

The Linkspartei, a far left-wing party that nobody really wants to form a coalition with. They really won't be able to fulfill most of their utopic promises, since that would crash the economy, but anything will be done for votes~ Also, the only way for the SPD to rule the country would be this party (and the greens), which jost won't happen. Ruled by Oskar Lafontaine with an iron fist.


There aren't really that much differences between the parties, which Angela Merkel is to blame for (probably), what with her grey-grey politics and nonexistant opinion. But we will see what happens.

Discuss. What candidate would you support, how do you view Germany and it's political situation?

[Aqizzar]

Well, you go on about how the two major parties are expected to win or lose, and lots of promises broken and such.  Not being able to read German news articles or websites, it would be easier to pick a side if you could provide some detail of their activities and platforms.

For the moment, I'll say I'm rooting for the FPD, just because I'd love to see a world leader named Guido.

[Errol]

Considering what he did in the past, it would have been awesome. But, he's the leader of a minor party with maybe 10% vote potential, compared to the CDU which has 30% upwards... =(

Google Translate isn't half bad, you usually can get the gist of what the text is trying to say, and there are also english texts about that election.

Wikipedia also has a nice summary of that stuff. Linked in original post.

[Leafsnail]

This is what happens when you have Proportional Representation, I'm afraid.  I believe it was forced on Germany after the first world war in an attempt to weaken them politically .

[Errol]

Well, I just watched a TV stream that had people calling at the show's and telling them what they voted, which was then used to craft a forecast of the result. It was fairly accurate last election, so it's no fluke. Guess what happened.

CDU got approximately 25%.
SPD got little over 15%.
FDP got over 20%. (Will we get Federal Chancellor Guido after all?)
Greens got about 15%.
Linkspartei got 25 PERCENT.

I didn't expect such a result. Everything's open now.


I also happen to think that Germany's system is leaps and bounds better than the USA's one, where you have two established partys and a questionable system.

[Leafsnail]

Linkspartei got 25 PERCENT.

It may be that the Linkspartei voters are more passionate, and more likely to call into a TV show to announce their voting intention.

[Errol]

Yeah, but even when counting it down... they will probably still get a LARGE chunk, far more than predicted. If you were to down all the percentages of the minor parties by 5% and increase the rest by 7,5%, it'd still be mighty impressive.

[Muz]

Left wingers are winning everything these days 

[Leafsnail]

The Labour party are screwed here.  And the European Socialist block in the EU parliament (can't remember what it's called) lost tonnes of seats in the June elections.

[Akroma]

happy CDU voter here


I think it is good that the FDP gained so much, while the SPD lost a bunch, it makes the aspired coalation between FDP and CDA much easier

the problem is, even with their massive gian, it might not be enough

I am dreading a red-red-green coalation with the links partei as the dominant part. that CAN NOT end well

[Aqizzar]

FDP got over 20%. (Will we get Federal Chancellor Guido after all?)
Linkspartei got 25 PERCENT.

I am always in favor of any result which makes things weirder.  Kudos.

I also happen to think that Germany's system is leaps and bounds better than the USA's one, where you have two established partys and a questionable system.

Can we have one thread, just one thread, involving politics that doesn't devolve into an argument born out of unprovoked America bashing?  Please?

[HAMMERMILL]

Ugh, I lived in Germany for two years and I read a very convincing set of literature that confirmed the political party of Germany I'd support if I still lived there but I can't remember.

I think the party that Angela Merkel belongs to, the CSU. Or maybe it was the otherway around?

It was one really bombastic liberal party that was looking good untill Merkel vastly improved the economy with her reforms and made them look kinda foolish since their rhetoric no longer held any weight in the present time.

[Leafsnail]

Can we have one thread, just one thread, involving politics that doesn't devolve into an argument born out of unprovoked America bashing?  Please?

Formula:

Politics related ----> America bashing
Culture related ----> Japan bashing
History related ----> Britain bashing

Does that seem like a fair overall analysis?

[Wimdit]

That... is actually a pretty damn good generalization. I never noticed it before, but it seems accurate.

[bjlong]

RERAIL!

There aren't really that much differences between the parties, which Angela Merkel is to blame for (probably), what with her grey-grey politics and nonexistant opinion. But we will see what happens.

Huh, now that's interesting. I'm not German, but I watch a 15 minute Tagesschau to try to brush up on my German pretty regularly. I'm not that good, so I don't get everything everyone's talking about (One time, the only word I could make out was "child pornography," strangely enough) but I do seem to recall every one of Merkel's speeches seeming like "Guys, we have a problem. We should solve that."

Now, I'd expect that for about 50% of a politician's speeches, but when it's everything I can make out, I begin to wonder...

Anyways! Give us a brief rundown on people's concerns in Germany, if you please--it'd help us make some connections. And (for those who don't know) a coalition is two parties throwing their votes together to make the majority, in return for some political power from the one with the most votes. That could probably use a better explanation.