2010 State Elections in Germany

[Franzl]

Turnout is said to be low.

50% up to 4pm.


Is the traditional assumption valid that low turnout helps the CDU? I would imagine that it is especially true in NRW, to be honest.

Well, but there are good reasons for CDU voters to be frustrated these days.

Yeah that is true enough.

At this point, I don't even know what I want to happen. Quite honestly, even though I couldn't vote SPD if I lived in NRW (mainly because of education policy), I really really would like to see SPD/Green obtain a majority on their own again. It would be a nice symbol to have that (and show that they are at least somewhat viable without the Left).

On a side note, isn't it funny that people voting Left today are probably doing the one thing that is most likely to keep the CDU in govenment?

[Franzl]

ARD EXIT POLL

CDU 34.5
SPD 34.5
Grüne 12.5
FDP 6.5
Linke 6.0

[Franzl]

CDU/Green is one seat short!

[Franzl]

This is just an exit poll....both SPD/Green and CDU/Green are one seat short......it'll be a long night

[Franzl]

CDU/SPD
SPD/CDU
CDU/Green
SPD/Green

All this is still possible!

[Franzl]

I wouldn't bet any money on SPD-Green yet.

[Franzl]

I want a Red-Red-Green coalition. This isn't worse than Rüttgers

oh Lord.....

[Franzl]

That said, German exit polls are usually extremely accurate, compared to a lot of countries.

[Franzl]

RECOUNT!!!

[Franzl]

RECOUNT!!!

Haha. Was there even a Hessen recount in 2008 ?

(PS: I think German elections are perfect enough to avoid something known as "recount")

Don't think there ever was a recount....but it's not even that important in a proportional system whether it's 0.1% more or less (usually).

[Franzl]

Still no district results ...

In Austria, every town would be counted by now (I know you have 2 votes, but we also had 80% turnout 2 years ago) ...

Maybe the vote counters are on strike.

[Franzl]

SPD picks up another seat from the CDU in Wesel III, by roughly 600 votes or 0.8%.

Oh no....that's where grandma lives!

[Franzl]

SPD picks up another seat from the CDU in Wesel III, by roughly 600 votes or 0.8%.

Oh no....that's where grandma lives!

Grandma is a CDU voter ?

left-wing CDU voter mostly because of religion and other social issues.....come to think of it....she would be very at home in Appalachia, seriously

[Franzl]

Bouffier is great

[Franzl]

I'd probably be voting FDP at this point in time....just to make sure they get in.

I'm not particularly happy with them at the moment, though.

[Franzl]

One of the many reasons I hate Berlin...

[Franzl]

I wouldn't say Gauck is gone yet....the two things you mentioned could happen Tender

[Franzl]

Last few electors voting right now.

Then they count, and we wait.

What do you think the chances of Gauck winning are?

I think it's possible....but I doubt the abstentions can be overcome.

[Franzl]

I would vote against the Smoking Ban in Bavaria.

[Franzl]

What kind of backwards country is Germanyn that they would allow a bunch criminals in the tobacco industry to spend one red cent on a campaign to prevent restrictions on smoking??? What do they call it? The campaign in favour of lung cancer??

The idea that tobacco companies are allowed to play any role whatsoever in German politics is scandalous. Where do they get their power? I've never seen any tobacoo growing in Germany and I always thought Germans were quite health conscious. Its pretty sad when countries like France and Italy and Ireland and the UK have done the right thing and banned smoking in all bars and restaurants - while in Germany - everywhere you to drink or eat is like walking into a gas chamber full of noxious cigarette smoke.

We believe in freedom, something you apparently don't.

[Franzl]

http://www.volksentscheid2010.bayern.de/taba6990.html

Results under the posted link.

With 5 districts reporting, I'd be surprised if the smoking ban failed....

[Franzl]

It's over. Completely over.

YES is winning 70%+ in Aschaffenburg and Ingolstadt.....and there isn't a single district yet that voted NO.

Done.

[Franzl]

Hooray for the nanny state!

[Franzl]

normal for a brand new government, isn't it?

[Franzl]

Red-Green majority, as the FDP fails to get into parliament because of the 5% treshold.

Oh the FDP will get in, no doubt in my mind, as there are enough conservative leaning voters (like me) that would vote for them tactically.