Upcoming German Elections...

[ludwigb]

I was wondering if people here have thoughts on the upcoming elections. Anyone rooting for a particular candidate or party?

[snowbear]

1. Hmmm.. guess you'll need to fill some of us in..

Haven't really heard a whole lot about the upcoming elections.. When are they? :7

[ludwigb]

2. Elections in September

Federal elections are coming up in September. Since Germany has a dual house system (parlaments based on a federal parlament vote and another composed of represenatives from state governments), Christian Democratic dominance of the Bundesrat (state governments) requires new federal elections to legitimize the current red-green government.

This website offers some info on the parties and issues at stake...

http://www.signandsight.com/features/259.html

[Rainscents]

3. Thanks for letting some of us know... I will be following this election

as my adopted (My parents) are from Germany and they follow what goes on in Germany. I also follow my parents foot step!

[Imajika]

4. Well...

..I'm hoping Schroeder and his SPD/Green alliance defy all odds and win, but the writing has been on the wall for quite some time. At this moment I don't see any way that Angela Merkel and the CDU/CSU won't win.

The German economy is not good, unemployment is way too high, and Schroeder's economic reforms have alienated his own base which will likely suppress left of center turnout. Schroeder just barely won last time around, and he and his coalition have been annhilated in virtually every local and state election since that time. The SPD's defeat in their stronghold of North Rhine-Westphalia was devestating since the social left had held it for decades.

I would say the rightwingers will be in total control of the German government after the next election.

Imajika

[ludwigb]

5. Red/Green came back last time..

Let's hope they can do it this time. I think many Germans have come to trust red-green. I also think that Christian Democrat reforms re unlikely to do much more good than the reforms red-green is already committed to.

Still, you're probably right. The Christian Democrats are nowhere near as bad as the GOP here, and the economy is in bad shape.