German Federal Election | CDU wins 41.5% / SPD wins 25.7%

[Nakura Chambers]

The German federal election results are in, with the right-wing Christian Democratic Union securing 41.5% of the vote and 290 of the 630 parliamentary seats. Though the CDU won the election, they didn't win enough seats to form a majority government (316 required for majority), with their coalition partner (the Free Democratic Party) having lost all 93 of their seats. This is the best election result for the Christian Democratic Union since the reunification of Germany.

The Social Democratic Party only received 25.7% of the vote, securing 251 seats. The Left, the successor of the former Socialist Unity Party, which was the ruling communist party of East Germany, received 8.6% of the vote and 68 seats. Alliance '90/The Greens, an self-proclaimed environmentalist party, received 8.4% of the vote and 64 seats. In order to obtain representation in the parliament, a party's list must receive at least 5% of the vote (or win a constituency seat).

The Free Democratic Party faired the worst of the formerly parliamentary parties, having only received 4.8% of the vote and losing all 93 of their seats. Alternative for Germany, a recently formed anti-Euro (but still pro-EU/pro-Brussels) party, received 4.7% of the vote and didn't gain any seats. The Pirate received 2.2% of the vote. the far-right National Democratic Party received 1.3% of the vote. The right-wing populist movement, The Republicans, received 0.2% of the vote. And the Marxist–Leninist Party of Germany received 0.1% of the vote.

What's really interesting is how the next government will be formed. The CDU could attempt to form a coalition with an opposition party. Alternatively, they could form a minority government and hope the opposition doesn't act obstructionist (blocking everything they try). It's also possible that all three left-wing parties will work together, combining their 319 seats to form a majority government.

[Granyala]

The CDU could attempt to form a coalition with an opposition party, but all of the opposition parties are left-wing, so that seems unlikely.

Nah. CDU and SPD worked together before. So it's not as unlikely as you might think it is.
But in the end it doesn't really matter anyway, because EU-Politics supersedes national politics, so these votes are more "entertainment" than anything else.

[Stir]

This won't end well.
It's quite possible that the CDU and SPD will go for a two-party coalition (á la VVD/PVDA in the NL), but we can see who's the winner: Center right knee-jerking. Which means we're going to be looking at great cuts on the economy and employment (which affects the economy). Toss in some more deregulation and tax-cuts for the international corporations, and...

Well; Germany is one of the Pillars of the EU. And this might just cause the whole thing to go down. And when it does, it's not going to be pretty.

(Even though CDU is more like the Dutch CDA; a more moderate group. Which may be its saving grace.)

[Deleted]

What's really interesting is how the next cabinet will be formed. The CDU could attempt to form a coalition with an opposition party, but all of the opposition parties are left-wing, so that seems unlikely.

A grand coalition between CDU and SDP (SPD) isn't unlikely at all, and quite common in Germany (just like in Austria).
Should be by far the likeliest option right now.

[Nakura Chambers]

Nah. CDU and SPD worked together before. So it's not as unlikely as you might think it is.
But in the end it doesn't really matter anyway, because EU-Politics supersedes national politics, so these votes are more "entertainment" than anything else.

Sorry, I'll fix that.

[Deleted]

Obviously is won't happen.

But are rainbow coalitions possible in the German system. Like could the SPD form a coalition with lots of other parties for a majority? Theoretically.

[Granyala]

But are rainbow coalitions possible in the German system. Like could the SPD form a coalition with lots of other parties for a majority? Theoretically.

Yes. All sorts of coalitions are allowed, as long as the parties can agree.

So far I see 2 popular options:
Bigred-Black (SPD-CDU)
Red-Red-Green

I cant really imagine Green-Black though.

I'm just happy that the neo-liberal party of the rich (FDP) is out.

[TZucchini]

A grand coalition between CDU and SDP (SPD) isn't unlikely at all, and quite common in Germany (just like in Austria).

You mean...politicians actually work together in Germany?

Gratz to Merkel on her third term.

[Granyala]

You mean...politicians actually work together in Germany?

I wouldn't go that far.
If memory serves (and it's a bit hazy as politics ain't my strong suit), the last bigred-black (SPD-CDU) government got accused of "getting nothing done" because of internal bickering.

[Ravenblade]

First off the poll is totally not like German voting works, you will need a first and second vote. But the CDU and SPD were a coalition once (namely that government before the last one) and Mr.Steinbrück was the Minister for Financial Affairs. I suppose he won't lead the coalition talks if he sticks to his words so Sigmar Gabriel will have to do the honours. I totally can't imagine the Greens forming a coalition with the Blacks unless they want to be next to be booted out of the parliament in the next elections. Since their lead has announced its collective retirement it may be completely unlikely especially if the new lead is headed by Fundies (fundamentalist, doctrine/ideology-orientated people with no love for consensus in ecological and civil rights matters).

Also the Left party is a merger of two leftist parties, the rebel wing around Oskar Lafontaine of SPD refugees being frustrated with the neoliberal thatcherist politics of Schröder's SPD and the PDS (Party of Democratic Socialism). They are unvoteable for me due to their insistence that the GDR was just a mishap and filled with misunderstanding like a bad marriage and denying all the evils. But position-wise they are close.

The Greens are currently governed by Realos (basically the realism-based faction of their party based on consensus instead of doctrine) but many blame their terrible campaigning like pro-tax raise even though it would have left the lower and middle income classes untouched, Veggie Day - day where people are only allowed to eat vegetables in canteens and cafeterias - I am not a staunch meat-eater myself but I feel like it's a matter of choice and smoking bans which I actually agree with.

Lastly, hooray for the FDP, I can live with the CDU still being in charge but I am happy that the FDP is out. It's good when some party can't act like it has no voters but only business clientele forever.

Pirates will be foreveralone.jpg for now though.

PS: The SPD still gained votes though but not as much as they had hoped.

Yes. All sorts of coalitions are allowed, as long as the parties can agree.

So far I see 2 popular options:
Bigred-Black (SPD-CDU)
Red-Red-Green

I cant really imagine Green-Black though.

I'm just happy that the neo-liberal party of the rich (FDP) is out.

Green-Black seems unlikely but RRG as well. Considering the triangle of animosities between all three. That's not to say that all positions on people are incompatible with eachother but TV debates made it clear that Greens vs. Lefts == world's first antimatter reactor if ever put in charge of a government.

[Reeve]

Nah. CDU and SPD worked together before. So it's not as unlikely as you might think it is.
But in the end it doesn't really matter anyway, because EU-Politics supersedes national politics, so these votes are more "entertainment" than anything else.

With Germany taking the lead on much of EU politics, I imagine the German national elections do have a lot of significance for the whole region.

[Granyala]

With Germany taking the lead on much of EU politics, I imagine the German national elections do have a lot of significance for the whole region.

I honestly think that CDU and SPD aren't different enough that it really matters.
Ultimately Industrials will dictate terms to politicians, just like in the USA.

[Deleted]

So far I see 2 popular options:
Bigred-Black (SPD-CDU)
Red-Red-Green

Red/red/green would only be possible if the SPD completely refuses to go into a Grand coalition AND completely "forgets" about what they said before the elections.

I cant really imagine Green-Black though.

Number-wise it would be possible, but I agree that pragmatically it's very unlikely.
I also doubt that the "Greens" would do themselves a favour as they would primarily be the majority provider without much to say.

I'm just happy that the neo-liberal party of the rich (FDP) is out.

Personally, I would have wished that they'd make it once more - and would have voted for them.
But then again, I'm not German, so this is purely theoretical.

Generally, the biggest downside of Grand coalitions is that they very often come with some kind of huge stagnation.
They are most stable, though.

[Ravenblade]

Red/red/green would only be possible if the SPD completely refuses to go into a Grand coalition AND completely "forgets" about what they said before the elections.

The more conservative among SPD voters wouldn't agree and the Lefts would be angry to be always forced to sign stuff they don't agree with. It would be worse than having a Grand Coalition in the long term.

Personally, I would have wished that they'd make it once more - and would have voted for them.
But then again, I'm not German, so this is purely theoretical.

Generally, the biggest downside of Grand coalitions is that they very often come with some kind of huge stagnation.
They are most stable, though.

The reasons why the FDP got votes at I think was only because business people still supported them. They really need a timeout and to rethink the purpose of existence.

[Mayhem]

well as a foreigner i hoped for a gain for the left, just to see what gysi is capable of, so a grand coalition it is then, good luck, ours was a mess, as usual, wonder what´s it be next week when we have elections, pure guess:

no change -.-

[Deleted]

Well, after the elections are over, I can say: nothing really changed (because like this, nothing EVER changes)

feels like I wasted some time on sunday voting (voted pirates btw)

[Ravenblade]

well as a foreigner i hoped for a gain for the left, just to see what gysi is capable of, so a grand coalition it is then, good luck, ours was a mess, as usual, wonder what´s it be next week when we have elections, pure guess:

no change -.-

The Lefts are usually profiting off a left drift in public approvals, if it goes left their approval will increase as well and they generally are more popular in the East since not all people were following the revolution and still maintained that they are the ones preserving ancient GDR values like compassion for the little man and collective solidarity. But they have been losing constantly due to generation shift and people emigrating to the West. As I said they are unvoteable for me because I can't vote for people who still can't call Erich Mielke an evil man and prefer to dodge the issue of critically analyzing their past.
As an example, the former GDR's most red town is like a couple of kilometres away from me and they still reign as the most red area in the East. The Marxist atmosphere is still palpable when you go there even though it feels anachronistic with all the evil capitalist changes. Even some street names remained they only removed the worst like of that policeman killer and then communist martyr named Max Matern.

Also the Greens are called Alliance '90 in their prefix for a reason. If things would be fair then Alliance '90 would be a separate party and the SED would have dissolved into nothing but it did not happen.

[Deleted]

no change -.-

I seriously doubt that there will be any changes.
Neither Black/blue nor red/green will have majorities, and no one likes three-party-coalitions too much.

[Ravenblade]

The SPD will have its party convention on Friday so we won't know before next monday realistically but it is likely that a Grand Coalition will happen. Most of the people actually wanted that to happen anyway as early polls some weeks ago suggested. It's true, the majority does not want a change. It's traditionally hard to push for changes when people in general are happy. I personally think the opposition just did not grab their chances good enough and squandered them with various antics and gaffes. Especially the desastrous energy change policy, the unresolved issue of minimum wages or the silence over foreign spying scandals would have been one of their currently weak points. Not important enough to make them important to listen to for the crowd shouting "Angie! Angie! Angie!" though.

[Mayhem]

I seriously doubt that there will be any changes.
Neither Black/blue nor red/green will have majorities, and no one likes three-party-coalitions too much.

yeah, i read it in the standard today, that the last coalition wasn´t so bad... meanwhile the police is starved out while useless positions remain and the corruption from the former coalition still unresolved, next sunday will be another sad day