German Elections & Politics

[RedPrometheus]

Wow, surprised the traffic light coalition actually went through.

Actually, Kurt Beck opted for FDP than Greens as coalition partner. Then RP FDP knows how to work with SDP.

Yes. There was an SPD-FDP coalition in RLP from 1991 to 2006 and Kurt Beck kept good relations with them afterwards. Apparently Dreyer was able to build on that, but she seems to be a natural bridge builder in my opinion.

[RedPrometheus]

Nobody posted it here yet: the SPD-centrist mayor of Berlin Michael Müller made a successful coup against leftwing SPD chairman Jan Stöß and got rid of some allies of his:

http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/berliner-spd-michael-mueller-schlaegt-andreas-geisel-als-vize-vor/13466742.html

This also hurts the SPD-left overall as Stöß was one of the more powerful and outspoken members.

[RedPrometheus]

German president Joachim Gauck has decided not to run for a second term.

http://www.politico.eu/article/joachim-gauck-wont-run-for-second-term-as-german-president/

[RedPrometheus]

Today are municipal elections in my home state of Lower Saxony. The AfD result will be particularly interesting. They are pushing quite hard with several big events the last couple of days.

You can follow the results here: http://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/niedersachsen/kommunalwahl_niedersachsen_2016/Kommunalwahl-in-Niedersachsen-Machen-Sie-Ihr-Kreuz,kommunalwahl582.html

[RedPrometheus]

New INSA poll for Berlin:

CDU: 18%
SPD: 22%
Greens: 18%
FDP: 6%
Left: 14%
AfD: 14%
Others: 8%

http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/berlin.htm

[RedPrometheus]

i respect the hell out of schulz but i am not into believing someone who worked in brussels for such a long term can suddenly break away in his home country.

didn't work in countries like egypt, won't work in germany.

but if i would make an educated guess..... gabriel got burn-out, scholz knows he can't win with merkel still on top of the CDU and schulz seemingly wants his 15 minutes in the sunlight.

Schulz is to the right of Gabriel.

All true, but, still a good option for SPD. At least, is there alternative is both a solid liberal and somebody who has not been a part of the government they are trying to replace.

[RedPrometheus]

Why no SPD-DieLinke?

 
 
Linke chairman in Saarland is Oskar Lafontaine who was the SPD leader in the late 90s and then left the party. Until today they hate each others guts.

I wouldn't be so sure of that. Anke Rehlinger seemed to be quite OK with him in a recent interview I saw and I talked with some people from Saarland who said that red-red is a possibility.

I would be quite surprised if there weren't any coalition talks at least.

[RedPrometheus]

So I'm on my way now to Berlin for the nominating convention for Martin Schulz as a delegate. I wonder how many votes he'll get

[RedPrometheus]

The CDU will definitely celebrate tonight.

[RedPrometheus]

It's time that all minister presidents have to be elected directly!

This shows a disturbing lack of understanding of the German political system.

[RedPrometheus]

The SPD will go for early elections either with the federal elections in September or in October.

[RedPrometheus]

Most likely election dates are apparently the 22nd or the 29th of October or the 5th of November.

[RedPrometheus]

New Bavaria poll (GMS)

CSU: 37 %
SPD: 15 %   
Greens: 10 %   
FDP: 8 %   
Linke: 3 %   
Free Voters: 7 %   
AfD: 14 %   
Others: 6 %

http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/bayern.htm

[RedPrometheus]

Other state leaders like Berlin Mayor Michael Müller also expressed concern on a grand coalition. I think in the end, the base will vote down any coalition agreement, especially since the negotiation results are pretty weak (unlike in 2013). I'll also vote against it and don't know many people in my party here at the base that are in favor of a grand coalition.

I disagree completly - I am 100% certain, that the members will vote for the "grand" coalition.

[RedPrometheus]

Other state leaders like Berlin Mayor Michael Müller also expressed concern on a grand coalition. I think in the end, the base will vote down any coalition agreement, especially since the negotiation results are pretty weak (unlike in 2013). I'll also vote against it and don't know many people in my party here at the base that are in favor of a grand coalition.

I disagree completly - I am 100% certain, that the members will vote for the "grand" coalition.

What's the composition of the membership like? A lot of young SPD friends on Facebook I have have set their profile pics to the "GegenGroKo" - how relevant will they be? Or is their younger cohort considerably to the left of the party as a whole

The average is 61 or 62 And I think the older members are still traumatized by 16 years opposition during Helmut Kohl.

And four years ago most of the young members were against the grand coalition too and a very large majority voted for the coalition nevertheless.

[RedPrometheus]

I’m a delegate at the conference and I am now 100% certain that the delegates will approve the coalition talks. Andrea Nahles speech really changed the mood in the hall.

[RedPrometheus]

I’m a delegate at the conference and I am now 100% certain that the delegates will approve the coalition talks. Andrea Nahles speech really changed the mood in the hall.

Oh, we have a V.I.P. here
Will the vote be secret or will it be like a roll call?

There might be a vote to have a secret ballot but I expect that to fail. The delegates will vote by raising their voting cards. If the majority is unclear the counting commission will count each vote.

[RedPrometheus]

I’m a delegate at the conference and I am now 100% certain that the delegates will approve the coalition talks. Andrea Nahles speech really changed the mood in the hall.

Oh, we have a V.I.P. here
Will the vote be secret or will it be like a roll call?

There might be a vote to have a secret ballot but I expect that to fail. The delegates will vote by raising their voting cards. If the majority is unclear the counting commission will count each vote.

Majority is not certain. I’m quite surprised.

[RedPrometheus]

The socialist workers' song folklore at the end was just embarrassing and humiliating. 😡

Though it is a tradition to sing it after party conferences I didn’t do it this time

[RedPrometheus]

The socialist workers' song folklore at the end was just embarrassing and humiliating. 😡

What did they sing? The Internationale? Because that seems extremely common among socialdemocratic parties all around Europe.

“wenn wir schreiten seit an seit” - it’s the official party anthem. Only the Jusos sing the International at the end of their conferences

[RedPrometheus]

56% on a card vote? Christ. That is a strikingly low figure.

It is

[RedPrometheus]

56% on a card vote? Christ. That is a strikingly low figure.

It is

How did you vote, Hermann?

I voted against another Grand Coalition.

[RedPrometheus]

https://www.politico.eu/article/merkel-clinches-coalition-deal-with-social-democrats/

The coalitiontalks are done. Apparently the SPD will get the Foreign, Finance, Labour, Family, Environment and Justice ministries. CSU will get the Interior with an added "homeland" portfolio with Horst Seehofer as minister. Olaf Scholz seems poised to become Finance minister according to DPA.

[RedPrometheus]

https://www.politico.eu/article/merkel-clinches-coalition-deal-with-social-democrats/

The coalitiontalks are done. Apparently the SPD will get the Foreign, Finance, Labour, Family, Environment and Justice ministries. CSU will get the Interior with an added "homeland" portfolio with Horst Seehofer as minister. Olaf Scholz seems poised to become Finance minister according to DPA.

According to BILD Schulz becomes Foreign minister.

[RedPrometheus]

I have a full list:

Chancellor: Angela Merkel
Head of the chancellery: Peter Altmeier
Foreign: Martin Schulz
Finances: Olaf Scholz
Interior: Horst Seehofer
Labour: Katarina Barley
Economy: Thomas de Maizière
Defense: Ursula von der Leyen
Justice: Heiko Maas
Environment: Barbara Hendricks
Transportation: Andreas Scheuer
Education: Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer
Family: Eva Högl
Health: Hermann Gröhe
Agriculture: Jens Spahn
Development Aid: Gerd Müller