German Elections 2009

Perhaps it is because people see in Wilders some sort of possible relief from things they dislike?  I'm not sure, because my only exposure to the man has been through a handful of news stories and your opinion.  And at 4 AM...ugh.
 
Shadow said:
43.8% voted in Sweden. The only fringe party that received a lot of votes - 7.1% to be precise - was the so called "Pirate Party", who only deal with filesharing issues. Basically, they want stuff to be free.
Not true. I voted for them and I do not download copyrighted material. I don't like filesharing except for previews. Yes, it is one of the party's cornerstones but it is about so much more and to simply claim it's only about filesharing is not right. I voted for it because the thought of letting private interests gain access to highly private information, for which the police aren't allowed to to do likewise even for death threats, is absolutely horribly stupid.

As I said, I voted for them but not because I want stuff for free. I want the internet to remain what it was, without infringing my basic human rights. These controlling laws as of recently scares the hell out of me, and the Pirate Party can send the established partys that message for me.
 
Yax said:
I voted for it because the thought of letting private interests gain access to highly private information, for which the police aren't allowed to to do likewise even for death threats, is absolutely horribly stupid.

I know, and I agree with that.

The reason I'd never vote for the Pirate Party is that with so many important questions being decided on EU level, I just don't like the idea of voting for a party with such a narrow program. Especially not one who say they'll vote like their parliamentary group on issues where they don't have views of their own, but doesn't say which group they plan to join.
 
The reason why they've not announced what party group they'll join is because it's not decided yet. It's as simple as that. I know, they're a very limited party, but a lot of partys starts out like that. I think it's also about sacrifices. I'm willing to sacrifice the other issues, the economic, the social and so on to give them a chance to place the internet on the political map in the EU. That's a sacrifice that I can't vote for the party that reflects my views on it but it's a sacrifice that has to be made, or else noone is going to talk about the internet because they won't need to.
 
I know it's not decided which group they'll join, but I'd like to know if I'm supporting the liberals or the greens (the groups the Pirate Party has expressed interest in joining) when I vote. They should at least have stated a preference. I'm not willing to sacrifice all the other issues.

I'm not saying you were wrong for voting like you did. I'm merely explaining why I don't like the Pirate Party much, and one issue parties in general.
 
Forostar said:
I think you're right. The underbelly of society raises its voice.

But the underbelly of society has a voice to raise.  So, I think that it takes more than what's been done to make these people realize that, yes, Mr. Wilders is probably a terrible person.  I find myself wondering if polling is done extensively in Holland like in the USA and Canada during election years, because that could be a very interesting tool.
 
Update:

Fact
Elections for state parliament took place in Saxony, Thuringia and Saarland on Sunday. In each of these states, the two major parties (CDU and SPD) lost massive votes. Saxony can keep its conservative Minister President but here, the CDU will have to enter a coalition with the FDP now. In Thuringia and Saarland, the future of the government is unclear, but most analysts are waging on a SPD/Leftist/Green coalition in both states. The Leftists are the great winners of the election, with a plus of 19% compared to last elections in Saarland; they are second strongest now in Saarland and Saxony, and third by a narrow margin in Thuringia. In every state, the CDU is the strongest party, but this is a Pyrrhic Victory in each case; in fact, in Thuringia, they lost a whopping 11.8%.
The SPD, formerly major competitor to the CDU seems to have lost its status as a major people party. Most analysts believe that if the current federal CDU/SPD coalition continues, it can't be called a grand coalition anymore, but a coalition with CDU as the major and SPD, who has an embarrassing 20% in the polls as the minor partner. As a reminder, between 1998 and 2005, the SPD was the strongest party in the country, and the party of former chancellor Schröder.

Opinion
I am very upset with this. The SPD has become very unpopular because it has a very bad leadership. So I believe it would be the best for it to stay in the opposition for four years to have those heads roll and get the competent younger party members to the leadership; but that means we are going to have to endure a CDU/FDP coalition. We've had that, and that was the constellation that brought Germany to its knees in the Kohl era. Needless to say, back then there were still at least a few competent politicians, such as Genscher; but today, neither party can come up with anybody you'd want to entrust the country with.
Some analysts are evaluating the possibility of an SPD/Leftist/Green coalition for the entire country, but the only party here who would bring one or two good ministers to the cabinet would be the Greens. The SPD would obviously want to keep its current staff, and the Leftists, I don't even want to imagine them getting their hold on anything.
I read a report recently that said Merkel herself would prefer to keep the government the way it is right now. Not necessarily because she likes the SPD, but because she loathes the FDP. I used to think the current government does a good job, but after getting some deep insight into the current social troubles in this country, I can't say that anymore. I wouldn't actually mind a social democrat/liberal alliance, but not with the liberal party we have right now. Plus, that is unlikely on so many levels

Germans are huge drama queens, but this one time I have to agree with the general sentiment and say things are bound to get worse no matter what.
 
One week to go, and the race is open. Only one loser is for sure: Germany.
 
I don't have any doubt that Germany will do fine... as always!
Schröder was a phenomeno, not easy to find another one like him...
There is a problem with the socialist parties pretty much everywhere, but if there is a rise of leftish, this is a great sign to me.

I think people got a bit disapointed with socialists in Europe,
as the socialists were not prooven to be as revolutionary as they were expected to be.
I recall the 80s and this huge wave of Socialist goverments -but then there was a hope, and a vision (or illusion if you like)

Socialists need to be reformed ASAP.
 
Well, mate... Schröder is responsible for the misery this country is in. I wouldn't want another one like him.
 
He had a charisma in impressing /convincing, this is certain...
I understand that you want someone that will be more effective and less shinning, that's why we need a reform.
An essential reform, or we'll be depended on shinning stars like Bler or Schröder to can see some more
progressive parties to power.

At least Mrs Merkel is a digne and serious personality, I respect her (yet without knowing too much)

Look next to you, how pittyfull has become the once Mighty France : Having such a clown for President,
an admirer of Berlouskoni, look Italy (even worst) and you'll understand that things in Germany are not that bad.
 
I don't judge a chancellor by his or her personality or the way he or she is presented in the media- I judge them by the work they do. And in that respect, Schröder was awful, and Merkel is, well, not much better. We don't need reforms because the politicians are not flamboyant enough, but because their work is, and has been, crap.


BTW, who is that?
 
I voted. Party should be obvious. :)

Apparently, up to half of the German population was still undecided whom to vote for last week, so this is going to be one interesting evening, especially because the SPD seemed to pick up a little in the last few weeks.
 
Well, you voted and that's what's important.  Now, we see.  A large % of undecided voters could really lead to an interesting swing!
 
Most of my friends voted for the Pirate Party. I'm not sure I like the fact that a party that has such a narrow program and so many points saying "we're working on it" gets so many votes. I know, everybody is saying "they're a new party, give them time", but that is exactly the problem- they need time before they can become a party that deserves a seat in the Bundestag. In four years, they might be ready. Now they're not.
 
Hey, if they develop into a real platform, why not?  Especially if you agree with it.  But if they don't have any points you like, then you choose someone else.
 
Turnout is 72.5%. The worst turnout ever in the history of the Federal Republic.
 
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