Amazing, as long as she was in a grand coalition with the SPD she was quite popular - then her wish came true and she got her "bumblebee" coalition with another rightwing party - the FDP and in just 8 months she has crashed and burned and is now the most unpopular chancellor in recent memory and polls show the left ahead by 15 points!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jun/14/angela-merkel-germany-coalit...
Got to feel some [i]schadenfreude[/i] at this development, especially given the crowing in the right-wing press at her election. Looks like the Germans haven't turned their backs on social democracy after all.
Got to feel some [i]schadenfreude[/i] at this development....
The only party worth considering there is Die Linke, along with its gains resulting from the Israel debacle.
[url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-03/merkel-s-deputy-westerwelle-giv...'s Coalition in Turmoil as Deputy Gives Up FDP Post[/color][/url]
[url=http://www2.macleans.ca/tag/angela-merkel/]Spooks with shady pasts[/url] Germany's foreign intelligence service is looking into its past-and turning up Nazis
Could be embarrassing for Merkel, another political conservative elected on promises to bring about transparency and accountability in government.
Merkel's Sister Party CSU Suffers Worst Election Result Since 1950 in Bavaria (and vid)
"Germany's political landscape is crumbling as Merkel's sister party the CSU, has only received 37.3% of the votes in Bavaria, preliminary results show. Meanwhile, the right-wing AfD has entered parliament for the first time..."
Sickening that people who live in the state the first concentration camp was built have just sent quasi-fascists to their legislature. They've forgotten history.
And yes, Merkel's coalition is collapsing...but it looks as if nothing positive can come of that. Snap elections can only send MORE reactionaires to the Bundestag. The SPD seems to have given up and nobody else on the Left is truly stepping up to offer anything like a compelling radical alternative.
I know this is serious but I appreciate the translations from German to English.
members of her government had variously referred to each other as "wild pigs" and "gherkin troops" (rank amateurs).
...This week's Spiegel magazine called her the Trummerfrau, a reference to German women who cleared away the rubble after second world war bombings.
...The chaos has led commentators to refer to Merkel's administration as a "constipated institution".
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jun/14/angela-merkel-germany-coal...
I particularly enjoy "gherkin troops".
This reminds me of the old "When is the U.S. Invading" thread. They have been predicting her downfall for 8 years now.
Merkel's Sister Party CSU Suffers Worst Election Result Since 1950 in Bavaria (and vid)
"Germany's political landscape is crumbling as Merkel's sister party the CSU, has only received 37.3% of the votes in Bavaria, preliminary results show. Meanwhile, the right-wing AfD has entered parliament for the first time..."
AfD didn't field candidates in that state in the last election; that is the only reason they have had no presence there up until now, because Bayern is easily the furthest right of all the former west states. As for the CSU, their head Horst Seehofer, who is one of those who has been pushing hardest for Merkel to leave, is the one with his head on the block.
This also isn't the first blow. The coalition was rocked just weeks ago by the ousting of Security minister Hans-Georg Maassen, which seriously embarrassed and split the SPD, so Merkel is hardly the only one looking bad right now.
Merkel will likely face a vote at the party convention in December, but the bigger question is whether the coalition will survive.
And no surprise that RT softpedals AfD - nothing about anti-immigrant and racist policies that they are promoting and Die Linke are flirting with and which are the background story to this vote.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/trolls-in-germany-right-wing...
Sputnik helped spread the 2016 anti-immigrant fake rape story helped give AfD their first leg up in Sachsen. So of course RT is going to steer clear of their promotion of hate, and put the focus of how bad Merkel is. Why? Because she is taking heat for honouring Germany's refugee committments.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-election-russian-germans/russ...
What happened, and why.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-politics-bavaria/germanys-mer...
WATCH "Refugees Welcome': Hundreds of Thousands Rally Against Racism in Berlin
Yes, of course Smith, it's all the fault of the evil Russian media. And speaking of immigration, Russia, one of the most multi-ethnic countries on earth, is currently hosting over 2 million immigrants fleeing the 'Revolution of Dignity' aka American regime change, in Ukraine, where the CIA asset billionaire president steals anything that isn't nailed down and where Nazis now hold more torchlight parades screaming anti-Jewish epithets and 'Russians to the knives! than you can shake a Kyiv Post at. Speaking of which, I notice that you seem to have rather given up riding your old Banderite hobby horse and trying to convince us all that Right Sector is actually just a nice bunch of patriotic democrats worthy of Canadian support. The Russian media isn't without its faults, (which is why I read and post from a variety of alternative sources) but then again, so is WaPo, NYT and The Guardian. Remember Iraq's 'weapons of mass destruction'? 'Gadddafi is killing his own people'? Well now it's still 'Russia Russia Russia is enemy number one (next to China) and made Donald Trump President instead of Honest Hillary'. But it doesn't seem as convincing as it once did, having told so many lies proven to be so. Perhaps you noticed.
From that article:
EU member states have been challenged by differences of opinion over the issue of migration, while in Germany these differences have manifested themselves most distinctively, resulting in internal divisions. German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer, who leads one of the ruling coalition parties, has been urging for a stricter immigration and border policy.
Yeah. Let's talk about how it is fracturing the coalition, not about the party that is actively driving the racism and xenophobia.
And go to the linked article about Chemnitz. Hard to avoid mentioning them there, seeing as they were called out. But who is to blame?:
Ever since, multiple reports have attributed responsibility for gruesome murders and rape cases to migrants and asylum-seekers living in Germany, provoking a vigorous public outcry over Merkel's controversial migration policy and igniting a surge of right-wing and radical sentiment.
Meanwhile, right-wing parties are surging in elections throughout much of Europe in response to an unprecedented influx of undocumented migrants, mainly from the Middle East and North Africa.
No. It isn't neo-Nazis suckering gullible dupes. Or these right wing parties getting cash and free promotion from Mr. Putin, courtesy of Sputnik and RT. It's all because of Merkel "controversially" letting in too many murdering immigrants. According to Sputnik, anyway.
But sure, refugees welcome.
Anti-immigration movements are xenophobic but they highlight a very real problem that has been created by oligarchs and neoliberals.
Waves of mass migration like this are not natural. Many migrants would much rather stay home. They can't because of conditions, either economic or violent, that were and are created by the western world. We are shipping military equipment to Saudi Arabia being used to create refugees in Yemen. Business welcomes them to drive down wages in developed countries and as a cheap domestic labour pool. This naturally creates resentment in workers competing for jobs at every level and having social services cut at every turn while migrants that never wanted to leave home in the first place struggle for survival.
PravySektor? You sure about that? Maybe you might want to check that against the things I really have said.
But since we are going for the distraction again, my opinion about what is happening in Ukraine hasn't changed - only my feelings about how useful it is having a conversation in some of these threads here. I wasn't aware that you missed me; tired of the sound of your own voice?
Now to bring it back to this thread, and this conversation, it wasn't me who wrote that article blaming it all on immigrants, giving a pass to the racists, and calling a fair immigration policy "controversial". It also wasn't me who wrote the many articles before it which have helped these racist movements gain a foothold. And that also goes for that RT piece that is utterly silent about those thugs and why this election went down as it did.
And Pondering, these racist movements are no more natural, and this isn't about this latest "wave of migration", or because of it. They have always been there, along with the propagandists who whip them into hatred. I heard that same story with my own ears in that same state - Bayern - 20 years ago. What we are seeing here is just the latest version of it.
For that matter they are here in Canada too, though our refugee situation is a trickle by comparison. It is not about that.
From Forced Migration To Forced Arrival: The Campization of Refugee Accommodation in European Cities
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5874268/
Inside Germany's Refugee Crisis
Manching transit center could be the new model for how refugees are treated in Germany.
The EU Remains Unprepared For The Next Migration Crisis
https://carnegieeurope.eu/2018/04/03/eu-remains-unprepared-for-next-migr...
"The lack of movement on reforms ultimately means that the EU remains woefully unprepared for another refugee crisis..."
Insufficient planning, coordination and allocation of necessary resources to ensure a smooth integration of newcomers at a time of increasing austerity almost guarantees big problems. Canada took in tiny numbers compared to Europe. Merkel took in huge numbers, many without documentation or identification then tried to force unprepared communities to assume responsibilities and costs with insufficent means to do so. Neither citizens nor newcomers were well served in many cases. Rich politicians in gated communities never have to worry about the consequences of their actions or the effects upon others less fortunate than they. Until perhaps voting day comes along. Don't assume everyone in Europe who opposes bad refugee policies and practices is necessarily a Nazi.
Don't assume everyone in Europe who opposes bad refugee policies and practices is necessarily a Nazi.
Well, hey, if we're talking about keeping out murderers and rapists (as Sputnik spins it) I guess what happened in Chemnitz was a perfectly normal response.
Even Sahra Wagenknecht is trying to spin her kinder, Sparticist anti-immigrant policy. I can't imagine it's about trying to get back votes from the AfD. Or playing that same target community for a bunch of saps.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/sep/04/german-politicians-launch-...
But you trying to tell me that not everyone is a Nazi? That's almost one for the hall of fame. Though of course it comes down to whether it is our Nazis or their Nazis, right? These are the haters and xenophobes helping to bring down western Imperialism, so it's all good.
Unfortunately, Die Linke is like most politicians, even the NDP. They go with the flow. Whatever the flow.
Seems to me if Merkel had "gone with the flow" as Seehofer and other wanted her to things might perhaps have gone a bit differently in Bayern (and we'll see what happens in Hessen in two weeks).
On that issue at least, she didn't.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-economy-immigration-law-analy...
Another thing alluded to in that article. There is a teacher shortage in Germany, so bad that classes are kept home some days. The federal government is also planning for many more care positions for the sick and aged. People's fear-based reactions aside, it isn't entirely a bad policy. In some ways it is a necessary one.
Berlin: A Quarter of a Million People Demonstrate Against Racism and the Right
The organizers had expected 40,000 people. To everyone’s surprise, almost 250,000 showed up to demonstrate on a warm autumn day. The march began at Alexanderplatz and ended at the Victory Column, passing through the Brandenburg Gate.
The coalition that called for the demonstration was called Unteilbar (Indivisible) and included hundreds of organizations – including the services sector union Ver.di, the Kurdish association Nav-Dem, the Central Council of Muslims, the Protestant Church, dance clubs, antifa groups and countless NGOs.
The crowd was politically diverse, with everything from families with German and EU flags to masked protestors in the Black Bloc. This was originally planned as a mobilization against racism and the rise of the right-wing party Alternative for Germany (AfD), as well as fascist groups in the streets. Yet Saturday was an opportunity for a large sector of the Berlin population to express their discontent with Germany’s ongoing shift to the right – which is just as much the responsibility of the mainstream parties as the AfD.
Besides anti-racist slogans, there were also lots of social demands: Signs called for affordable housing or rejected precarious working conditions. Workers from the airline RyanAir, who have been striking for weeks for better wages and more job security, made themselves especially heard in a bloc of the trade unions. Immigrant groups also drew attention to rightward shifts in their countries....
Berlin: A Quarter of a Million People Demonstrate Against Racism and the Right
The organizers had expected 40,000 people. To everyone’s surprise, almost 250,000 showed up to demonstrate on a warm autumn day. The march began at Alexanderplatz and ended at the Victory Column, passing through the Brandenburg Gate.
The coalition that called for the demonstration was called Unteilbar (Indivisible) and included hundreds of organizations – including the services sector union Ver.di, the Kurdish association Nav-Dem, the Central Council of Muslims, the Protestant Church, dance clubs, antifa groups and countless NGOs.
The crowd was politically diverse, with everything from families with German and EU flags to masked protestors in the Black Bloc. This was originally planned as a mobilization against racism and the rise of the right-wing party Alternative for Germany (AfD), as well as fascist groups in the streets. Yet Saturday was an opportunity for a large sector of the Berlin population to express their discontent with Germany’s ongoing shift to the right – which is just as much the responsibility of the mainstream parties as the AfD.
Besides anti-racist slogans, there were also lots of social demands: Signs called for affordable housing or rejected precarious working conditions. Workers from the airline RyanAir, who have been striking for weeks for better wages and more job security, made themselves especially heard in a bloc of the trade unions. Immigrant groups also drew attention to rightward shifts in their countries....
In that crowd, there is hope.
The SPD had an unimaginably disastrous showing, falling to 9.7%. As I've said before, it's becoming an open question as to whether that party should carry on at all, since it now seems to be in irretrievable decline and devoid of any core values, of anything which might lead it to any sort of revival, at all. It's depressing that Die Linke is flirting with xenophobia-you'd think they could come up with a cogent radical arguement against the idea of blaming all of Germany's problems on immigrants.
In that crowd, there is hope.
..i see it that way as well ken.
The SPD had an unimaginably disastrous showing, falling to 9.7%. As I've said before, it's becoming an open question as to whether that party should carry on at all, since it now seems to be in irretrievable decline and devoid of any core values, of anything which might lead it to any sort of revival, at all. It's depressing that Die Linke is flirting with xenophobia-you'd think they could come up with a cogent radical arguement against the idea of blaming all of Germany's problems on immigrants.
Wagenknecht actually launched Aufstand, and it has split the Left Party. But this isn't the first time they have put doctrine before good sense (usually they blame it all on western imperialism and nothing else) so I am not surprised. Although immigration is the flash point when it comes to the current situation, a lot of this has to do with the continuing disparity between the former east and west. AfD isn't exclusive to the east (look at the polls in Hessen) but that is where they have their greatest base of support, and that is where much of this propaganda has been directed.
As well, the reports I saw after the election said little about immigration specifically. The biggest complaint was about infighting between and within members of the federal coalition. In short - politicking getting in the way of good governance.
Lost in a lot of this coverage is the fact that the Green Party is doing as well if not better than AfD in this rejection of CDU/CSU and SPD. And in Bayern a lot was carved off by a right-wing reform style party which will likely now be in coalition with the CSU. But I wouldn't start engraving the tombstones of either of the big parties just yet.
As for Hessen, currently run by a CDU-Green Coalition, the three main parties, CDU26, SPD21 and Green20, were all within six points of each other on Sunday. AfD has jumped to 12 percent. It really is anyone's game.
(edit)
Actually I have an old bit of campaign material from Die Linke back in the 90s when they were the Party of Democratic Socialists - A condom packet with "Proletarians of all Lands Unite" written on it. Given the current fractious state of things, maybe they should haul that old campaign out again. Better message than kinder Sparticist anti-immigration.
Lost in a lot of this coverage is the fact that the Green Party is doing as well if not better than AfD in this rejection of CDU/CSU and SPD.
Doesn't go with the narrative they're pushing.
It would be interesting to see what German political landscape where the Die Gruenen became the largest party on the progressive side of the spectrum might be like. In some ways, they've kind of sought to transform themselves into a more left-liberal variant on the FDP, haven't they?
They might take Hessen. Unlikely, but possible. And I can see why the focus is on the AfD because its very presence is far more alarming. But if you look at the numbers the Greens have made major gains. In fact who knows how much of the AfD support is a protest vote, and the fact they are new?
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-46020745
Now it remains to be seen if SPD will rstay in the coalition.
They might take Hessen. Unlikely, but possible. And I can see why the focus is on the AfD because its very presence is far more alarming. But if you look at the numbers the Greens have made major gains. In fact who knows how much of the AfD support is a protest vote, and the fact they are new?
It is terrifying that the AfD has never really experienced any declines in support in the polls, nor any showings ever lower than the polls predicted for it at any point of its existence, throughout the party's whole life. It's hard to believe AfD support will ever stop growing in Germany, no matter what; if it hasn't even slowed yet, when would it be likely to do so in the future?
Hesse state elections result [2013 results in parens]
CDU 27.0% (38.3%) 40 seats (47)
SPD 19.8% (30.7%) 29 seats (38)
Greens 19.8% (8.7%) 29 seats (16)
AfD 13.1% (4.1%) 19 seats (0)
FDP 7.5% (5.0%) 11 seats (5)
Die Linke 6.3% (5.1%) 9 seats (6)
I would have found it hard to believe 30 years ago that the right wing CDU would be the party holding the line on fair refugee policy. But that is part of the reason why things are where they are now, and part of the reason it is bleeding votes to a further right party.
Back in the 90s it wasn't AfD, but the NPD which galvanized that base of support. As alarming as AfD's entry into the Bundestag is, I do see their support plateauing, and probably either dying out, or getting watered down. The real thing to fear IMO is that racist and xenophobic base, because some of them are in the larger parties too.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Democratic_Party_of_Germany
And again, the Greens won more in this latest election than the AfD, and probably as much in Bayern, if you consider that AfD never ran there before. A lot of it also has to do with the dysfunctional nature of the coalition.
Germany on a Political Seesaw
https://www.counterpunch.org/2018/11/13/germany-on-a-political-seesaw/
"While Americans teetered, arguing as to which side gained more in the elections, Germans have been balancing on a seesaw of their own - which can also have decisive consequences...."
