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The article touches on some interesting themes, but fails to provide any real insights. Sometimes, it sounds outright silly. Frau Merkel is naturally inclined to some sort of "social solidarity", because she had spent her formative years in the bloody DDR (crouching in fear of the Stasi eavesdropping, as indicated in another part of the same article)? Please.
Please what?
What I got from the report is that Angela Merkel, by her life experience, is a well-rounded European.
I refer to the suggestion that the (fake) social solidarity of the Communist East Germany had somehow rubbed off on Merkel, despite her antagonism to its regime.
I would vote for her to be my president in a heartbeat. She seems like a tough and capable woman.My impression is that she's certainly not a "cold-hearted" libertarian. But I suspect that rather her Christian upbringing (her father was a pastor and even voluntarily moved from West to East Germany in order to support the oppressed church there) has to do with that, than any socialist indoctrination (in fact, people close to the church were among the most skeptic and critical East Germans). Not saying she is particularly religious, you just get that particular "feel" about her, which makes total sense with that background.
But of course I could be wrong, in case she's a master of creating an entirely different image of herself in public. But based on her lacking rhetoric skills, and the general image of "boring honesty" that's around her, I don't think that's the case. She certainly never attempted to portray herself as a religious person for public relation purposes.
My general impression is that she takes her job very seriously and has a strong sense of duty towards the office, while on the other side, she is not ideological at all but extremely pragmatic about the content of her policies.
Imagine a conservative president who believed that unions have a place in the boardroom with management!.
1952 means, of course, the near-total domination of Christian Democrats, with Konrad Adenauer being Chancellor for 5 terms, from 1949 to 1963.
Thanks! A very informative, and as I can see accurate summary.
Please excuse my nitpicking, but I'd like to correct that Adenauer was not Chancellor for 5 terms, but 3.5 terms (elections 1949, 53, 57 and 61).
Will be interesting to see if the anti-euro AfD manages to win the 5.0% of the votes necessary to enter the parliament. If yes, Merkel will get pressure from anti-Europeans in the next four years and will probably not be able to afford evoking the impression she's easily giving away German money (assuming she's reelected).
German Guy, is there any info on the early polls?
My understanding is, making exit polls public before the voting booths close is illegal in Germany. We will have to wait for another long 40 minutes
Really? LOLz.
On one side, it does seem like a logical move and very respectable, on the other side... where's my circus?
As you probably know: It's gonna be a long night. FDP at 4.7% and anti-Euro AfD at 4.9%.
5.0% is necessary to enter parliament. All possible coalitions depend on these two now. Could take until 11pm until we know if they're in or out.
As you probably know: It's gonna be a long night. FDP at 4.7% and anti-Euro AfD at 4.9%.
5.0% is necessary to enter parliament. All possible coalitions depend on these two now. Could take until 11pm until we know if they're in or out.
Huh?
Is this really happening? The absolute majority for the Merkel's party, I mean?
I think they got about 43%... not absolute majority by itself.
source: German Election Results - Business Insider
Oh, but it is, translated into parliamentary seats: At this moment, ZDF gives them 304 seats out of 606, and ARD - 302 out of 598.
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