The Iron Frau - A German Politics Timeline

[Amanda Huggenkiss]

May 26th, 2014: Ukrainian government troops have opened fire on separatist forces in Eastern Ukraine.
May 27th, 2014: The parliamentary leaders of the new European parliament have stated that they will allow a vote on Jean Claude Juncker (Conservative, Luxembourg) as president of the European commission if he is nominated by European leaders. Chancellor Merkel has stated that it is not up to the European parliament to make a proposal for the presidency and that it will take a few weeks until the leaders of the member states submit a candidate.
May 29th, 2014: Petro Poroschenko has been elected president of the Ukraine, succeeding impeached president Victor Janukowitsch.
May 31st, 2014: 32 CDU-MPs have signed a public letter written by MP Jens Spahn, urging Chancellor Merkel and the CDU-ministers to be more proactive. “Trust must be earned every single day,” the letter states. “The CDU is the party that has build and shaped the Federal Republic like no other party did. It is time to take responsibility again like Kohl and Adenauer did.”

June 2nd, 2014
Angela

General debate in the Bundestag. Merkel has prepared a government statement, so the plenary hall was packed. Members of the Bundestag seldom joined plenary sessions – they were the least important part of parliamentary work and often the speeches would be quite boring. But a government statement would always be an event. It would always provoke a rhetorical exchange of blows between the government and the opposition, which always makes good TV. Since the absolute majority, Merkel believed, the opposition was even more feisty. Today, it would be even more so, because everybody was aware that the CDU was in an especially weak state right know.

Merkel was especially mad at those MPs who have written this stupid public letter, just for the sake of improving their public image. As if she knew she did not see the problem. She did, and that is what she wanted to make clear in her government statement.

   © Tobias Koch / www.tobiaskoch.net

“In the way this government has handled multiple crises in Europe – the financial crisis in Southern Europe and, most recently, the crisis in the Ukraine – one could have the assumption that the Germany’s leadership has bound all the energies of the CDU/CSU government. But I can assure everybody: our economy prospers; our country is stronger than ever. This government is hard-working. It will be even more in the coming weeks. I am proud to present the 150-day plan of this government.

In the next 150 days, we will introduce a law to expand union rate wages in all sectors of the economy to ensure everyone can rely on a minimum wage. We will put a cap on rent increases in order to combat exorbitant rents in large cities. And we will raise pension entitlements for mothers whose children were born before 1992, just as we promised before the last election. These measures will strengthen our welfare state and increase the societal cohesion in Germany.

Meanwhile, this government will reform our migration-law in order to limit migration of under-qualified individuals. And we will introduce a road toll which will strengthen our road infrastructure. This government is active and works hard to lead our country into the future.

In the summer recess, I and several ministers will engage in several town hall events to  listen to the needs of the ordinary people in Germany. This summer will be ‘The Summer of Listening.’”

And now, she had to endure.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier (SPD parliamentary leader): “The government’s new agenda is the blatantly obvious try distract from their inactivity and incompetence of the last months. Chancellor Merkel does not care about convictions, she only cares about polling. She has no direction and allows herself to be pushed around by Horst Seehofer. She does not care about the hard-working people in our country.”

Volker Kauder (Union parliamentary leader): “We should thank Angela Merkel for pulling us out of one of the greatest recessions in the history of our country. We should thank Angela Merkel for record employment numbers. We should thank Angela Merkel for her leadership in the euro-crisis and in the Ukraine-crisis. But the opposition can only moan, moan, moan. And the moaning continues as the government proposes new welfare policies. I have the feeling the social democrats don’t want this government to succeed. They only want to be able to repeat their talking points!”

Gregor Gysi (LEFT parliamentary leader): “Chancellor Merkel, it displays a certain arrogance to praise a prosperous economy when 15 percent of Germans are in danger of being impoverished with upward tendency. Union rate wages are wonderful but they cannot fully ensure that everyone earns a wage they can live from. And we should not only make the pensions of the pre-1992 mothers go up. We should make all pensions go up!”

Gerda Hasselfeldt (CSU): “There is nothing wrong with policy adjustments when the public opinion changes. Voters in Germany have made a statement in favor of a more restrictive migration policy. The chancellor does the right thing by listening to the people and by evaluating how we can properly restrict immigration.”

Katrin Göring-Eckard (Alliance90/Greens): “It baffles me how the Union can seriously claim that Angela Merkel has shown leadership in the Ukraine crisis. Angela Merkel has put Germany on the sidelines by refusing to properly support the pro-European forces in the Ukraine. It also baffles me how anyone can interpret the result of the European elections as “wake up call” for Europe when the pro-European forces have won resounding victories in Germany. Have you lost your sense of reality?”
June 4th, 2014: The G7-meeting in Brussels has threatened to impose additional sanctions on Russia.
June 5th, 2014: Attorney General Range has announced that he will not start investigations against the NSA.
June 6th, 2014: On the sidelines of the memorial event to commemorate the landing of the allied forces in the Normandy in 1944, Russian President Putin has met informally with several world leaders, such as US-President Barack Obama, Chancellor Angela Merkel and new Ukrainian President Petro Proschenko.
June 10th, 2014: The Federal Constitutional Court has declared that Federal President Joachim Gauck had the right to call members of the right-wing extremist National Democratic Party (NPD) “nutcases”.
June 12th, 2014: Labor Minister Ursula von der Leyen (CDU) has presented a law that forced unions to negotiate union wages with industry representatives. The food and the art industry are exempt. Not qualified for union wages are “minijobbers”, pensioners, students and pupils, trainees, interns and unskilled workers. SPD General Secretary Natascha Kohnen has called the law a “bluff package”.
June 13th, 2014: The terrorist group Islamic State (IS) has made substantial territorial gains in Iraq.
June 15th, 2014: SPD-Leader Rolf Mützenich has announced that he plans to unveil a new social policy concept within the next week.
June 16th, 2014: Foreign Minister Peter Altmaier (CDU) has stated that the NATO must cooperate with Iran in order to contain the terrorist activities in Iraq.

[tmthforu94]

Just finished catching up on this - very detailed, I am enjoying it. Hope for an update soon!

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Just finished catching up on this - very detailed, I am enjoying it. Hope for an update soon!

Great minds think alike.

[Amanda Huggenkiss]

Thank you both!

[Amanda Huggenkiss]

June 19th, 2014: The Federal Office of the Protection of the Constitution has stated that xenophobic violence has risen within the last year by twenty percent.
June 20th, 2014: Edward Snowden has stated that he will not travel to Germany in order to testify before the Bundestag’s investigative committee regarding the NSA-scandal.
June 22nd, 2014: During the first stop of her “Summer of Listening”-tour in Meißen (Saxony)., Chancellor Angela Merkel has in response to an audience question committed herself to “strengthen our welfare state by protecting it from exploitation from foreigners who don’t contribute to our society.”

June 24th, 2014

BREAKING +++
SPD-LEADER MÜTZENICH UNVEILS NEW SOCIAL POLICY CONCEPT

Source: Jonas Rogowski via Wikimedia

Higher pensions, a minimum wage and a departure of Hartz IV: SPD-Leader Mützenich, General Secretary Natascha Kohnen and Deputy Leaders Andrea Nahles and Martin Dulig have unveiled radical new social policy concept, which is largely regarded as a breakaway from the SPD’s inherited burdens from its Gerhard-Schröder-third-way era.

“The Social-Democratic Party is not just a party of minimal adjustments. We envision a whole new Germany. A Germany everyone can benefit from. Hard work, responsibility, but also empathy and awareness have characterized the social democratic vision from its beginnings, and that is what our new concept is all about.”

The new social policy concept calls for the introduction of a federal minimum wage of 9.10€/hour, a minimum pension of 850€ per month, the abolition of private health insurers, an increased top taxation rate, lower tax rates for small and middle incomes, and inheritance tax reform, a cap on rent increases and transform of Hartz IV into a “real” subsidence minimum benefit.

The last point is especially striking: Hartz IV was introduced by SPD-Chancellor Schroeder as a reform of the German unemployment benefit system. Since then, unemployment benefits will be paid for a year – anyone who has not found a new job since then has to apply for Hartz IV, which is defined as the subsidence minimum, 391€ a month. Hartz IV can, however, be cut if the unemployed do not properly comply with the requirements of the unemployment offices.

“A subsidence minimum is a subsidence minimum. There should be no cuts and sanctions to something that is the absolute minimum you need to live,” Martin Dulig stated.

The concept is controversial within the SPD. Conservative SPD-Deputy Leader Olaf Scholz has stated that the concept is “a good basis for a serious discussion and I endorse it wholeheartedly.” Lower Saxony’s Prime Minister Stephan Weil has called the concept “tricky”: “Bold promises are important, but we should also think about which policies we will prioritize and which we have to evaluate and adapt regarding to the current economic situation.” MP Johannes Kahrs has warned that “the SPD must not abandon its achievements from the last social democratic government.” Rhineland-Palatine’s Prime Minister Malu Dreyer has especially praised the tax relief for the middle class.

June 23nd, 2014: CDU Deputy Leader Julia Klöckner has called the SPD’s new social concept “illusionist.”
June 27th, 2014: European Leaders have nominated former Luxembourgian Prime Minister Jean Claude Juncker for the post of the president of the European commission.
July 1st, 2014: Martin Schulz (SPD) has been re-elected as president of the European parliament.
July 2nd, 2014: Defense Minister Reinhard Brandl (CSU) has announced that he wants to acquire combat drones for the Bundeswehr.
July 8th, 2014: The Infrastructure Ministry under Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) has presented a bill for the introduction of a road toll. Dobrindt plans the introduction of toll discs and reductions of the car tax in combination with special rebates for environmental friendly vehicles.
July 10th, 2014: Amid further details concerning the extend of the US-espionage, Germany has expelled the representative of the United States’ intelligence agencies in Germany.

June 17th, 2014
Angela

Again, people did not talk to her directly and decided to make a fuzz out of it. And it was embarrassing.

For the first time in her third term, she has lost her majority.

Seven CDU-MPs – Roderich Kiesewetter, Gitta Connemann, Nadine Schön, Xaver Jung, Stefan Kaufmann, Nadine Schön and Uwe Schummer – seven nobodies have declared that they will not vote for the road toll.

She knew that the CSU would be outraged. But she could never have even dreamed about the impact of what followed.

[Snazzrazz Mazzlejazz]

She knew that the CSU would be outraged. But she could never have even dreamed about the impact of what followed.[/justify]

Is the CSU leaving the Union?

[Former President tack50]

Ooh nice, some tension and a rebellion that threatens the Merkel chancellorship over a dumb policy

[Amanda Huggenkiss]

She knew that the CSU would be outraged. But she could never have even dreamed about the impact of what followed.[/justify]

Is the CSU leaving the Union?

I think you can expect the Union to be a very firm alliance, at least for now. It took a lot more in the past for the CSU to question the Union.

Ooh nice, some tension and a rebellion that threatens the Merkel chancellorship over a dumb policy

The CSU has a special talent to find the dumbest of the policies so there is definitely more to come here!

[Amanda Huggenkiss]

July 18th, 2014: In their declaration concerning their opposition to the road toll, the seven dissenting CDU-MPs cite “the effect of the measure on our European partners” and “severe legal concerns.” Thomas de Maizière (CDU), minister for economic development, showed understanding for the rebellious group. Volker Kauder, the parliamentary leader of the Union, urged the MPs to respect the government’s agenda.
July 18th, 2014: CSU-Leader Horst Seehofer has called the dissent of the CDU-MPs “outrageous.”
July 19th, 2014: Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU), Vice Chancellor Markus Söder (CSU), CSU-Leader Horst Seehofer and Head of the Chancellery Helge Braun (CDU) and the rebellious CDU-group have met for a crisis meeting in the chancellery. While Markus Söder stated that there was “a severe breach of trust,” he assured that the government is “fully functional.”
July 20th, 2014: For the second time, Merkel, Söder, Seehofer and Braun have met for a crisis meeting in the chancellery.
July 21st, 2014: Green-Party Leader Cem Özdemir has criticized the CDU/CSU for their dispute. “In times of great international crises, our government should not quarrel about a useless road toll.” LEFT-co-leader Bernd Riexinger has urged the government to respond to the recent violence in the Gaza Strip.
July 22nd, 2014: For the first time during the government crisis, CSU-Leader Horst Seehofer has not categorically ruled out a schism between the CDU and the CSU. “Germany needs a conservative party and Germany will have a problem if it is not the CDU in the other states. Then we will have to evaluate what we will do as the Christian Social Union,” he stated, but he also emphasized that “the Union has existed for almost seventy years. You don’t just trow away a marriage of seventy years, but you work on it if one partner feels uncomfortable.”
July 24th, 2014: Vice Chancellor Markus Söder (CSU) has hinted that his party might back down on its position concerning the road toll, stating that the CSU must “accept the political reality.” The government should, however, renegotiate other demands of the CSU.
July 26th, 2014: After days of violent attacks in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli and the Palestinian governments have negotiated a ceasefire. The number of antisemitic attacks has risen in Germany within the last days.
July 27th, 2014: The ceasefire has ended. SPD-Leader Rolf Mützenich has criticized the government with being “distracted with themselves while the Gaza Strip and the Eastern Ukraine is on fire.”
July 27th, 2014: The United States and Germany have withdrawn their diplomats from Libya with regard to security concerns caused by the ongoing civil war.

July 28th, 2014
Angela


Martin Rulsch, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

It is tiring. The world needs leadership and I am dealing with this.

The press conference was held at 9.23 pm. Journalists were invited at 8.00 pm, but it had to be delayed because there were still details to clear up. She was so tired that she had troubles to read the text from the paper.

“The CDU and the CSU have re-evaluated the government’s agenda. We have also taken the recent political events into consideration.”

It could have almost been relieving when she stated that “the road toll will not be on the government’s agenda in the near future.”

But the CSU has negotiated hard. “In the recent days, the government has seen that there is additional need for securing Germany and its borders from external threats. That is why the ministry of the interior will prepare bold new immigration regulations and restrictions, concerning the--, um, legal immigration, so, the immigration in our job market, as well as the people seeking asylum.”

And then, Markus Söder had his big moment.

“The federal government in cooperation with business representatives will set yearly contingents for the legal labor migration, so that we always know which industry branches need how many qualified people. In respect to the number of asylum seekers, our country has exceeded its capacity. Thus, this government will introduce a yearly cap on the number of asylum seekers. The number of asylum seekers shall not exceed 200.000 people per year.”

Two hundred thousand people was an enormous amount. Maybe, she later thought, she should have cared more.

[RGM2609]

Always refreshing to see a well written, non-American TL on this forum!

[new_patomic]

Two hundred thousand people was an enormous amount. Maybe, she later thought, she should have cared more.

Oh. That's going to make the coming refugee crisis quite fun.

[America Needs R'hllor]

Very interesting! I want a Grune surge but I also wouldn't be opposed at all to a SPD comeback instead.

[Amanda Huggenkiss]

Always refreshing to see a well written, non-American TL on this forum!

Thank you very much!

Two hundred thousand people was an enormous amount. Maybe, she later thought, she should have cared more.

Oh. That's going to make the coming refugee crisis quite fun.

Personally looking forward to writing this part aswell

Very interesting! I want a Grune surge but I also wouldn't be opposed at all to a SPD comeback instead.

The Green surge didn't happen until mid-2018. I don't want to commit myself to something here, but I think that the hot temperatures and the climate protests of 2018 will lead to some form of green surge. Whether they will be able to poll above 20 percent will depend on the SPD's behavior in opposition and after the 2017 election.

[Amanda Huggenkiss]

August 3rd, 2014: Federal President Joachim Gauck has spoken out against rising national tendencies at the remembrance ceremony commemorating the start of the first world war 100 years ago.
August 4th, 2014: During a stop of her “Summer-of-Listening”-tour, Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel stated in Gera (Thuringia) that the federal government will declare Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, and Serbia, Albania, Montenegro and Morocco as “safe countries”, meaning that asylum applications from nationals from these states can be easier denied.
August 8th, 2014: Foreign Minister Peter Altmaier (CDU) has announced that the Federal Government plans to join the USA in air campaigns against the Islamic State.
August 10th, 2014: Green-Party Co-Leader Cem Özdemir has criticized the federal government for its refugee policy. “You cannot militarily intervene in other countries and deny asylum to those who have to suffer from the war you get us involved in.”
August 11th, 2014: Economy Minister Hans Michelbach (CSU) has announced that the federal government will deliver arms to Kurds in Iraq. Defense Secretary Reinhard Brandl (CSU) has stated that the Bundeswehr will participate in international training missions for Kurdish forces.
August 13th, 2014: Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) has announced that the federal government will adjust pensions in Eastern Germany to those in the west. SPD-General Secretary Natascha Kohnen has criticized her for proposing this policy just a few weeks before crucial parliamentary elections in eastern states.
August 15th, 2014: Saxony Polls – the CDU/FDP government is expected to lose its majority. CDU 40%, LINKE 17%, SPD 14%, AfD 8%, Greens 5.5%, NPD 4.5%, FDP 4.5%.

August 16th, 2014
Bernd

8 percent was good. It wasn’t great, but it was good. At the European election, the AfD had gained 10.1 percent in Saxony. But Bernd Lucke had no control over the Saxonian AfD. The control over the Saxonian AfD ironically was with Frauke Petry—his former co-leader and the face of the party's right-wing.
 
 The AfD now was well over a year old. Bernd Lucke, a liberal-conservative, was elected its leader in March, not without resistance by the right of the party. Still, the party seemed as if it did not know what it wanted. Internally, it was in a fierce war between soft conservative libertarianism and populist nationalism. Frauke Petry and the Saxonian AfD were staunchly on the side of the populist nationalists. The result in Saxony could question his position in the party.
August 17th, 2014: Gregor Gysi (LEFT) has drawn criticism from his party for coming out in support of arms deliveries for Kurdish forces. Sara Wagenknecht stated: “The LEFT is a strict anti-interventionist party. We should not get involved in this conflict.”
August 20th, 2014: Defense Secretary Reinhard Brandl (CSU) has stated that the Bundestag should deploy German troops to Iraq. Foreign Minister Peter Altmeier (CDU) has shown skepticism concerning this proposal, stating that Brandl does not speak for the federal government.
August 22nd, 2014: Minister for Economic Development Thomas de Maizière has come out against new calls to accept Iraqi refugees: “The international community must ensure that the people of Iraq can stay in Iraq.”
August 25th, 2014: The CDU in Saxony has ruled out a coalition with the LEFT and the NPD – but not with the AfD. This statement was met with vigorous criticism from SPD, Greens, and LEFT. Martin Dulig (SPD) stated that “the AfD – especially the AfD here in Saxony – has a big problem with right-wing extremist forces.”
August 27th, 2014: CSU-Leader Horst Seehofer has criticized the US-government for having “no strategy” concerning the fight against the Islamic State.

[Amanda Huggenkiss]

August 31st, 2014
State Election in Saxony


Source: Own Creation

Christian Democratic Union (CDU): 38.4%
The LEFT (LEFT): 17.1%
Social Democratic Party (SPD): 15.7%
Free Democratic Party (FDP): 3.1%
Alliance 90/The Greens (Greens): 5.3%
National Democratic Party (NPD): 5.0%
Alternative for Germany (AfD): 8.9%

Source: Own Creation

Source: Own Creation

CDU: 60, LEFT: 26, SPD: 25, AfD: 14, Greens: 8, NPD: 8
71 seats needed for a majority

The CDU/FDP coalition under Prime Minister Stanislav Tillich has lost its majority due to the FDP dropping out of the state parliament, while his CDU has only suffered minor losses. The LEFT has received its worst election result since 1994. The SPD, meanwhile, has under the SPD's Deputy Leader Martin Dulig received its best election result since 1994. The AfD under Frauke Petry was able to enter the parliament with a high single-digit result. The NPD was barely able to enter the Saxonian parliament for the third time - according to official counting, it received just 17 votes more than necessary. The Greens suffered minor losses but were on the verge of dropping out of parliament.

While the government has not been re-elected, Prime Minister Stanislav Tillich (CDU) is in a comfortable position, as the CDU is the only party to be able to form a majority coalition. With 141 seats in total, 71 seats are needed for a majority. A CDU-SPD coalition, the most likely result, would provide Tillich with 85 seats and thus a comfortable majority of 14. A CDU-AfD coalition, however, would with 74 seats and a majority of 3 be a viable option for Tillich.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

why is the AfD more "normalized" ITTL?

[Amanda Huggenkiss]

why is the AfD more "normalized" ITTL?

Due to the SPD not being able to balance out the CSU in the government, the government acts considerably more conservative. Thus, Lucke had been able to successfully make his pitch for an AfD with a stronger focus on individual liberties and governance on the principle of subsidiarity. The right-wing forces are not gone, though, but they do ITTL as of right now capture positions within the AfD's leadership. In reality, Frauke Petry was still Lucke's co-leader at that time. Also, the AfD in 2013-2014 was much more moderate than the AfD in 2015-2017 and astonishingly more moderate than the AfD 2018-today.

[Former President tack50]

I am genuinely surprised at the NPD making it in even after the rise of the AfD. I'd have thought they would disappear lol. I wonder if they end up being banned as the "The NPD are nazis, but they are too irrelevant to be banned" ruling would not really apply anymore.

[Amanda Huggenkiss]

I am genuinely surprised at the NPD making it in even after the rise of the AfD. I'd have thought they would disappear lol. I wonder if they end up being banned as the "The NPD are nazis, but they are too irrelevant to be banned" ruling would not really apply anymore.

In reality, the NPD did indeed drop out. They gained 4.9 percent, which is just 0.1% worse than their result in this timeline. If you take into consideration that the AfD, at this point, is slightly more moderate in this scenario, you could even make the case that the NPD's result should have been better.

[Amanda Huggenkiss]

September 1st, 2014: SPD-Leader Rolf Mützenich has congratulated his Deputy Leader Martin Dulig for his “tremendous success” as top-candidate in Saxony: “This result is a major breakthrough for the social-democratic cause.” He has called for Saxonian Prime Minister Tillich (CDU) to finalize his coalition preference. Martin Dulig has stated that “a coalition between the CDU and the SPD is the only logical step.”
September 1st, 2014: Saxonian Prime Minister Stanislav Tillich (CDU) has not ruled out a coalition with the AfD. “We are not there yet,” he stated. “Today, we will evaluate the election result within the party and ask ourselves how we can build a good coalition for Saxony.” AfD-Leader Bernd Lucke has underscored the readiness of the AfD to take political responsibility.

Source: Olaf Kosinsky / Wikipedia

September 1st, 2014: Several opposition politicians have criticized Prime Minister Tillich for refusing to rule out a coalition with the AfD. Cem Özdemir (Greens) has called his refusal “scandalous.” Andrea Nahles (SPD) has pointed out that “the AfD has a problem with right-wing extremists – especially in Saxony.”
September 2nd, 2014: CDU General Secretary Peter Tauber has urged Stanislav Tillich to rule out a coalition with the AfD: “The AfD should not have government responsibility in Germany.”

September 3rd, 2014
Angela

“I have not expected your call, Madam Chancellor.”

“Yes, well, I will come straight to the point,” Merkel stated. It was 10.43 pm. The morning after, she was about to leave for the NATO-summit in Wales. She had seen what had happened in Saxony and she was not pleased about it. 

“Listen, the CDU cannot enter a coalition with the AfD. This is unacceptable.”

Tillich said nothing, then stated: “But the CDU in Saxony is different than the CDU on the federal level.”

“And so is the AfD, Stanislav.” She did not know what Tillich was too stupid to understand, as he remained in silence, thinking about whatever was so complicated about this issue that it needed such consideration. Then, she added: “We really don’t want to legitimize any competition on the right of the CDU.”

“I understand,” he said. “But we should not rule out a coalition with the AfD forever. Parties can change.”

“Yes, they can,” Merkel stated.
September 4th, 2014: Prime Minister Stanislav Tillich (CDU) has stated that the CDU would not enter a coalition with the AfD in Saxony and that it would instead seek a coalition with the SPD.
September 5th, 2014: Recent polls suggest that the SPD-LEFT government in Brandenburg will keep its majority: SPD 34%, CDU 19%, LEFT 18%, AfD 10%, Greens 5.5%, FDP 2%. The election will take place on September 14th. 
September 7th, 2014: Reports have revealed that the federal chancellery commissions about 150 opinion polls per year. Opposition politicians have criticized Chancellor Merkel for being an opportunist. 
September 9th, 2014: Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble (CDU) plans to terminate the solidarity tax (Solidaritätszuschlag), a tax that was originally introduced to pay for the German reunification. According to Schäuble, the tax will be successively terminated until 2018.
September 11th, 2014: Foreign Minister Peter Altmaier (CDU) has stated that the Federal Government should join the US government in conducting airstrikes against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

[Amanda Huggenkiss]

September 14th, 2014
State Election in Brandenburg


Source: Own Creation

Social Democratic Party (SPD): 34.9%
Christian Democratic Union (CDU): 20.4%
The LEFT (LEFT): 17.4%
Alternative for Germany (AfD): 11.9%
Alliance 90/The Greens (Greens): 5.9%
Free Democratic Party (FDP): 1.1%

Source: Own Creation

Source: Own Creation

SPD: 33; CDU: 20; LEFT: 17; AfD: 11; Greens: 7
45 seats needed for a majority

The SPD under Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke was able to slightly improve their 2009-election result. The main opposition party, the CDU, was also able to slightly improve their result. For the first time since 1999, the CDU will be the second-largest party in Brandenburg. That place had been captured by The LEFT, which had joined the government in 2009 and has suffered a substantial loss of support. The AfD under Alexander Gauland was able to enter the parliament with double digits. The Greens were able to slightly improve their election result from 2009. The FDP saw the worst election result in its history in Brandenburg and has vanished into irrelevance.

Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke (SPD) is in a comfortable position to freely chose his coalition partner.  With 88 seats in total, 45 seats are needed for a majority. The current government, the SPD-LEFT coalition, would provide Woidke 50 seats and thus a majority of 5. An SPD-CDU grand-coalition would provide 53 seats and thus a majority of 8.

[Amanda Huggenkiss]

September 14th, 2014
State Election in Thuringia


Source: Own Creation

Christian Democratic Union (CDU): 30.8%
The LEFT (LEFT): 25.4%
Social Democratic Party (SPD): 16.3%
Alternative for Germany (AfD): 8.5%
Alliance 90/The Greens (Greens): 5.1%
Free Democratic Party (FDP): 1.7%

Source: Own Creation

Source: Own Creation

CDU 34; LEFT 28; SPD 18; AfD 10, Greens 5
48 seats needed for a majority

The CDU under Prime Minister Christiane Lieberknecht, amid minor losses, received their worst electoral result in the history of Thuringa. The LEFT under Bodo Ramelow was able to defend its position as the second strongest party. The SPD and the Greens both suffered moderate losses. The AfD under Björn Höcke was able to enter the parliament.

While the CDU-SPD coalition has regained its majority, a continuation is not inevitable. Both Prime Minister Christiane Lieberknecht (CDU) and Bodo Ramelow (LEFT) are able to form plausible government coalitions. A CDU-SPD coalition would elect Christiane Lieberknecht with 52 votes, a majority of 4. A LEFT-SPD-Green coalition would elect Bodo Ramelow with 51 votes, a majority of 3, as the first prime minister of the LEFT in the history of the Federal Republic.

[Amanda Huggenkiss]

September 15th, 2014: After the elections in Brandenburg and Thuringia, CDU/CSU parliamentary leader Volker Kauder has stated that the Union “cannot ignore the AfD and their issues any longer.” Chancellor Merkel has clarified that the CDU will “under no circumstances” form a coalition with the AfD.
September 17th, 2014: The LEFT, SPD and Green Party in Thuringia have met for their first negotiations.
September 19th, 2014: Former Minister for Economic Development Dirk Niebel has left the FDP. He criticized Christian Lindner’s leadership style which “does not allow any questions and undermines the principles of inner-party democracy.” He also stated that the FDP has become “a meaningless label” and that “liberalism must find a new home.”
September 22nd, 2014: Vice Chancellor Markus Söder (CSU) has criticized the North-Rhine-Westphalian government for being too gentle with radical religious groups. “Islamic terrorism is on the rise. Our governments must make clear that radical Islamism and Salafism have no place in this country.” North-Rhine-Westphalian Prime Minister Hannelore Kraft (SPD) responded that Vice-Chancellor Söder should “chose his words more carefully” and that he should visit North-Rhine-Westphalia. “Children of Germans and children of immigrants grow up together. We are one community.”
September 23rd, 2014: The SPD in Brandenburg has announced its intent to continue the coalition with the LEFT.
September 26th, 2014: Former FDP-politician Dirk Niebel has reportedly joined the AfD.
September 29th, 2014: Three employees of a private security firm have reportedly humiliated and hurt an Algerian refugee in a refugee center in Burbach. Cem Özdemir (Greens) called these reports “outrageous.”

October 1st, 2014
Markus

A salient skill a politician should learn is how to read the sign of the times and the mood of the population.

Sometimes, you don’t have to be smart. Sometimes, you just have to make the right guess.

He had already started last week in an attack against North-Rhine-Westphalian Prime Minister Hannelore Kraft. Sure, Markus Söder was criticized. But being criticized is a constant state in politics, so why bother listening to them.

Besides, it was a simple calculation. He knew the horrors in Syria and Iraq. He knew that the region was unstable and that the international airstrikes – which happened with German participation – would make the whole thing even messier. Maybe not in the next months, but definitely in a year, a major wave of refugees would be reaching Europe’s shores, and Europe had to be prepared. Or rather, protected.

Germany had already introduced a refugee cap, but that was just a law. Laws can change when opinion changes. Merkel especially was a person who always had a finger on the pulse of the public. When the refugees come, Germany must be prepared.

The main goal was to make clear that Germany doesn’t want them.
October 2nd, 2014: Vice-Chancellor Markus Söder (CSU) has called for a national debate about Islam in Germany. “Tolerance ends where our values begin,” he stated. “The political Islam has no place in Germany.” SPD-General Secretary Natascha Kohnen has accused Söder of being “an outdated figure in German politics.”

Foto: Michael Lucan, Lizenz: CC-BY-SA 3.0 de

October 6th, 2014: CSU-Leader Horst Seehofer has floated the idea of an “Islam-law”: “A solution could be a law which clearly states that the practices of Islam have to subordinate German law.” CDU-politicians were unwilling to comment on Seehofer’s proposal. Justice Minister Hermann Gröhe (CDU) stated that the German government has “no intent” to pass such a law.
October 8th, 2014: Among party lines, the Bundestag has passed a reform of the income tax, abolishing the “wealth tax”, an income tax of 45% for individuals earning more than 270.000€ per year. SPD, LEFT, and Greens oppose this reform.
October 11th, 2014: The Russian government has announced that it will withdraw more than 17.000 troops from the Ukrainian border.
October 14th, 2014: Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble (CDU) has reaffirmed that the next federal budget will be completely balanced.
October 17th, 2014: German Interior Ministers are divided into the question of how to treat radical Islamists in Germany. The German state estimates that about 450 people in Germany are willing to join the “Islamic State”. While CDU- and SPD-Interior Ministers favor the confiscation of documents that are required for international travel, the CSU and Vice-Chancellor Markus Söder favor deportation.

[Amanda Huggenkiss]

Hey y'all, a continuation of this timeline is in progress. Meanwhile, I have updated the first post of this TL and included a table of contents. The last post was the conclusion of Part I. Part II will begin with a summary of the state of the parties right now, their priorities and the challenges they face. Stay tuned!

[NyIndy]

Just wanted to say this is my favorite TL on the site right now, keep up the great work!