That's kind of incidental if you score high on left-wing issues - although CDU isn't that low (I think it was right after the FDP at 49%). If you are a left-leaning German, you also tend to score disproportionately high with the FDP due to their stance on social issues (in every single one of those tests I ever did, the FDP is right in the middle, with a high agreement on social issues and almost none on economy and welfare). At the bottom, by quite a margin, are AfD and NPD.
Now this is interesting! "One in three Bavarians want independence from Germany, poll shows" But there's this "But Germany’s Constitutional Court already settled the matter of whether Bavaria could hold a Brexit-style referendum for a ‘Bayxit’. The court in January rejected a man’s bid to hold such a vote, arguing that Germany's constitution does not allow for individual states to break away." BAYEXIT would decimate the German economy https://www.thelocal.de/20170717/on...-independence-from-germany-poll-shows-bavaria
Liberal in the European context has the original meaning. It's what you call libertarians but in a far more less state/government sceptical context. They are something between Hillary pro business democrats and your libertarians. Our conservatives or even the social democrats are far too state-loving for the American mainstream
Indeed. I've always found it confusing and bizarre that "Liberal" in NA means leftish (I mean, still right-of-centre in an absolute sense but as compared to "conservative"). I assume it stems from the absence of an actual Left in the US or Canada that liberals have come to assume the role, but it leads to some really strange ideological contortions.
Liberalism had already split into different factions during the 19th century, not just in America. In Germany (as in other countries), there also have been left-wing liberal parties, although they were largely replced by social democrats. Right-wing liberalism has also been out of fashion in Germany since the FDP's nationalist wing became irrelevant after the 1950s. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_liberalism (in German: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linksliberalismus) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_liberalism (in German: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationalliberalismus)
You couldnt make this shit up.. SPD suffers blow with loss of majority in Lower Saxony State’s prime minister calls for dissolution of parliament and new election https://www.ft.com/content/6cf9d638-7905-11e7-90c0-90a9d1bc9691 This is like the 4th or 5th big blow in this election campaign
It seems to me that at this point, unless something big happens, Merkel gets the most votes and is the next Chancellor. The issue is whether the FDP gets enough seats to allow a CDU/CSU/FDP coalition I wonder if the Greens might be temped into a Jamaica coalition. You give in to teh Greens on some environmental issues, point out that German has ended nuclear power and is trying to get renewables -- would that be enough? Or will the Greens figure they get that anyway. I cannot see the CDU entering into coalition with the AfD nor the SPD and Greens going in with Linke. So it may be everyone is back to a Grand coalition again.
I think you're right. If not something out of this world happens, like some big terror attack, I dont see the figures shifting that much. Perhaps only if people think the figures will not change so they stay at home from voting. Linke and AfD and to some minor extent FDP could profit from that. Greens are in big trouble nonetheless, they polled 12% in Berlin last week. Thats abysmal. They dont have unique sellling points and their two leading candidates are unpopular. Like Green topics with a pro refugee stance arent that much popular. That Lower Saxony got lost in Bundesrat because of a Green traitor also doesnt help. Here is another well written Cliffe article about this election campaign and how it difffers from the US and UK elections in terms of polarization of societies. He only used the wrong German term: The correct term is Schlafwagenwahlkampf (sleeping car election campaign). https://www.economist.com/news/euro...tory-makes-it-seem-germanys-election-campaign
They got 12.3% in Berlin in the last Bundestag election - so 12% would be more or less the same than in the 2013 election.
And now a Snap Election? https://www.thelocal.de/20170808/merkels-spd-rivals-face-snap-election-in-volkswagen-home-state
Well thats whats always going to happen if majorities shift. Otherwise they risk losing the state without elections. Clever though by SPD to do it after the federal elections
Winning in Germany! "Force people wanting to run for office in the AfD to make campaign donations to the party, then lie about it later and claim all donations were voluntary. It's never the crime that gets you, it's always the cover up." https://www.thelocal.de/20170817/st...otes-to-lift-far-right-leader-petrys-immunity
Well Erdogan has made it clear that he doesn't want SPD, CSU, or The Greens to win....gone so far as saying they are enemies of Turkey.... He's a menace.
I'm at the Straubing fest, and was invited to sit with the CSU gathering in the reserved area...their platform....it seems to sit a bit left of the neoliberal DNC platform right? @White/Blue_since1860 ? I'm only asking so I don't make myself look like an a--hole.
Id say literally all the parties are left to your political landscape with the exception of FDP and AfD.
I agree. I'm also seeing Merkel signs around here. Don't let Germany do what we did. She's the only adult in the room there. I'd say it's better to at worst, stick with the devil you know.
Ive heard from several people they are going to vote AfD as a protest and cause Angie will stay in office anyways.
We were in Germany last week and there were election posters everywhere. In Bonn the Green Party candidate is literally hugging a tree in her poster.
The Left (all flavors) have been out in masse, from Nuremberg to Augsburg, their signs can be seen everywhere. CDU/CSU has a strong foothold in Bavaria though... BTW...what's wrong with the Green candidate hugging a tree?