Germany decides !

[SnoopDog]

In 8 days time on Sept. 18th Germany will have its elections.
Since these elections are a year early due to the chancellor's own 'impeachment', they will be special and important to everybody in the country. But there are othre facts, that make these elections special. It looks like Germany will get its first female chancellor.
Economy is on a low while unemployment rates are on a record high since WWII.
There are still foreign policy issues over EU-extension, relations to the US, as well as issues dealing with crisises or inner conflicts (for instance a major Bavarian politician insulting people from East-Germany).

There was a new party founded which is a result of a merger between former sozialists and the left-wing of the social-democrats and also the rumors and possibility of a great coalition between the two major parties.
And we had an interesting tv-duel between the two contestants.

So even though polls show that the election is already decided (CDU/CSU and FDP forming the new government with Angela Merkel replacing Gerhard Schröder), it'll be an interesting sunday next week.

Just thought I'd tell you and ask for reactions, opinions.

Snoopy

P.S.: I'll be staying home on that sunday, watching from my couch, since I already voted.

 

[elfin_odalisque]

I really don't see that the prospect of a woman Chancellor is relevant these days - Britain, India and even Pakistan have been there already.

Nevertheless, the possibility of an East German becoming Chancellor is fascinating. The anti-Americanism og West Germany has never been echoed in the Easr - especially under the Stazi - and a fresh take on solving Germany's problems post-Marshall plan might be a good thing.

 

[SnoopDog]

I really don't see that the prospect of a woman Chancellor is relevant these days - Britain, India and even Pakistan have been there already.

Nevertheless, the possibility of an East German becoming Chancellor is fascinating. The anti-Americanism og West Germany has never been echoed in the Easr - especially under the Stazi - and a fresh take on solving Germany's problems post-Marshall plan might be a good thing.

I bet for those countries it was an issue when it happened, so it is for us.

Snoopy

 

[SnoopDog]

So, noone gives a shit I guess.

Snoopy

 

[Liar]

So, noone gives a shit I guess.

Snoopy

Got nothing valueable to add. Waititng 4 the actual election.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

I'd be surprised if the sex of your next chancellor mattered at all. Like Elfy said, it hasn't mattered much anywhere else. (Didn't Pakistan have a woman as head of state? Banizar Bhuto? Doesn't that strike everyone else as weird?)

For me, I really don't know the difference between the CDU, CSU, and FDP. All I know of German politics are the Greens. What are they up to?

Also, how come more than one Frenchman is Frenchmen, but more than one German isn't Germen?

 

[Alex756]

I think it is very monumental that Germany may have a woman in that role.

Just because other countries have been there done that doesn't make it less exciting.

The prospect of a guard change is really exciting, I mean, wow.

Women do not hold positions of power near as often, not even close. To have another female world leader is a visible sign for girls everywhere to keep trying. I remember learning about female pioneers in science, there weren't many of them, but that gave me some of my determination when the forces that be were against me.

I think this has to be incredibly important, not only for girls in Germany, but everywhere.

I guess I just find it inconceivable to my world view that people don't see this as exciting. Then again I grew up kicking and fighting to be able to compete with the boys.

-Alex

 

[SeaCat]

Snoop,

I didn't mean to ignore or not reply to you last night. I have been talking with relatives in Germany and Poland about this ever since the possibility came up. I am watching and waiting with great interest to see what happens. (Change is good at any time, even though sometimes it does hurt.)

Cat

 

[LadyJeanne]

A female Chancellor and a potential coalition between your two major parties? That sounds like a peaceful revolution. Good on you.

What brought your parties together?


(And yes, a female Chancellor is a big deal. A very big deal, seeing as she's the only one out there now. 1 out of 187 countries is, well, one step in the right direction. )

 

[minsue]

*BUMP*

Don't forget to vote, Snoop!

 

[SnoopDog]

A female Chancellor and a potential coalition between your two major parties? That sounds like a peaceful revolution. Good on you.

What brought your parties together?


(And yes, a female Chancellor is a big deal. A very big deal, seeing as she's the only one out there now. 1 out of 187 countries is, well, one step in the right direction. )

Well, the problem is, the parties are not together. The so-called Grand Coalition would actually be pretty bad for the country becuase neither party would give in and abandon their plans and programme. But it might turn out that it will be the only possible coalition that secures a majority for the government.
Latest polls show that it's too close to call what the turn-out will be like. I'm actually pretty wired already.

*BUMP*

Don't forget to vote, Snoop!

Oh, I already voted two weeks ago. So it's gonna be 'lay back and watch what's coming' for the Snoopster.

Snoopy

 

[TheEarl]

(And yes, a female Chancellor is a big deal. A very big deal, seeing as she's the only one out there now. 1 out of 187 countries is, well, one step in the right direction. )

Not to be a pedantic git, but NZ currently have a female PM as well.

Sounds like an interesting time in German politics Snoop. Will the coalition mean that nothing gets done?

The Earl

 

[SnoopDog]

Not to be a pedantic git, but NZ currently have a female PM as well.

Sounds like an interesting time in German politics Snoop. Will the coalition mean that nothing gets done?

The Earl

Well, to shed more light on this.

The conservative right parties CDU/CSU (the so-called Union) and the FDP will form a coalition as well as the now governing SPD and Bündnis 90/Die Grünen, the Green Party.

There will be a fifth party which will make it into the Bundestag, the former socialist party PDS, which is now called DIE LINKE, the new left-party. Since this party will probably get enough votes to make none of the two other coalitions possible, we will get a grand coalition. The only other possible government will be a coalition between SPD/Die Grünen and DIE LINKE but since DIE LINKE basically is a socialist party, the SPD and the Greens won't consider this.

Polls have shown a huge majority for CDU/CSU and FDP at the beginning of the campaign but latest polls show that it is too close to call.

I hope this wasn't too confusing. But to cut it short: Either the CDU/SCU and FDP coalition will have the majority to rule or there will probably be the Grand Coalition between SPD and CDU/CSU which no one really wants.

Snoopy

P.S.: One thing strikes me as odd. Even though this is a special election, right now - one hour before first official estimations - it seems that less people cast their vote than in the last election.

 

[SnoopDog]

First inofficial results are in in 15 minutes.

Ohboyohboyohboyohboyohboy.


Snoopy, excited Beagle

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Hope all turns out well for you snoop.

Don't be too upset if people sem less than interested. it really isn't a lack of interst, but more likely a kind of lack of understanding.

Most of us in american have never seen anything other than a two party system. It's a little hard to grasp the intracasies of several parties with similar, yet dissimilar programs for us.

 

[SnoopDog]

Hope all turns out well for you snoop.

Don't be too upset if people sem less than interested. it really isn't a lack of interst, but more likely a kind of lack of understanding.

Most of us in american have never seen anything other than a two party system. It's a little hard to grasp the intracasies of several parties with similar, yet dissimilar programs for us.

Unfortunately, I think the night will turn out bad for me and MY political interests. But what am I to do about it other than what I already did.....vote.

Snoopy

 

[SnoopDog]

Well, I have to go now, but I'll give you the first INOFFICIAL results:

CDU/CSU and FDP don't have a majority.
SPD and Die Grünen don't have a majority.

So either it's a Grand Coalition SPD and CDU/CSU.
Or the 'traffic light' coalition SPD, Die Grünen and FDP (even though SPD and Die Grüne said they'd never ally with FDP)
Or a coalition SPD, Die Grünen and Die Linke. (but that's highly unlikely)

So we have no clue who's gonna rule.

Big losers though are CDU/CSU who really hoped for a clear majority together with FDP.

Snoopy

 

[Lauren Hynde]

This should be interesting to watch.

 

[TheEarl]

Well, I have to go now, but I'll give you the first INOFFICIAL results:

CDU/CSU and FDP don't have a majority.
SPD and Die Grünen don't have a majority.

So either it's a Grand Coalition SPD and CDU/CSU.
Or the 'traffic light' coalition SPD, Die Grünen and FDP (even though SPD and Die Grüne said they'd never ally with FDP)
Or a coalition SPD, Die Grünen and Die Linke. (but that's highly unlikely)

So we have no clue who's gonna rule.

Big losers though are CDU/CSU who really hoped for a clear majority together with FDP.

Snoopy

This is why I'm not a fan of proportional representation.

The Earl

 

[Lauren Hynde]

This is why I'm not a fan of proportional representation.

The Earl

I don't know. It requires more flexibility, more democratic thought. People used to two-party systems have this myth that coalition governments can't get anything done, but it really is just a myth.

 

[oggbashan]

Translation for US citizens...

The so-called 'Grand Coalition' is like asking Republicans and Democrats to form a joint government.

It is just as likely.

The smaller parties will be gleefully expecting to influence the bigger parties to support some of their wackier ideas in exchange for their votes.

The result is not good for Germany.

Og

 

[SnoopDog]

Well, with results getting more and more precise it looks like we now know that we practically don't know anything.

Grand Coalition looks like the most probalbe coalition since the FDP has ruled out a coalition with the exisiting governing parties. So Schröder won't be chancellor again. But Merkel's CDU won't be able to form a coalition with Bündnis90/Die Grünen, so there can't really be a chancellor Merkel either. The only thing possible is a Grand Coalition under Merkel as chancellor. But the SPD won't do it. And since CSU/CDU have a slight advantage over the SPD (ca. 1%) they sure as hell won't form a Grand Coalition under a chancellor Schröder.

So....who's gonna govern Germany????

In the end there are even the possibilities now that Merkel will rule the country with a minority. Or there might even be a new election.

Oh boy, I anticipated a bad political night for me but this is really a weird and kinda devastating outcome.

In the end it seems like my wish for Schröder to stay in office will not be fullfilled.

Snoopy

 

[minsue]

Well, with results getting more and more precise it looks like we now know that we practically don't know anything.

Now that's politics....

 

[Lauren Hynde]

So....who's gonna govern Germany?

Is it that unlikely that all the Left-wing parties can come together to form a majority coalition (SPD + The Greens + Former-Communists)?

 

[TheEarl]

I don't know. It requires more flexibility, more democratic thought. People used to two-party systems have this myth that coalition governments can't get anything done, but it really is just a myth.

But there is a better than average chance that the lunatic fringe can get an untoward amount of power compared to their following, especially if a coalition is formed and their votes prove crucial in decisions.

Take the BNP in England (facists, or racist fuckheads, as I like to call them). They can garner 3% of the vote overall and have a risible presence in most constituencies. In most cases they fail to get their deposit back. They have no populist backing anywhere and thus they have no power. Yet in proportional representation would allow them a seat in Parliament.

The Earl