- Joined
- May 5, 2019
- Messages
- 15,598
- Reaction score
- 7,780
- Location
- San Diego
- Gender
- Male
- Political Leaning
- Other
Who replaces her, left or right?
Most likely Olaf Scholz, the SPD leader, but considering the close result CDU's Armin Laschet might get a chance if Scholz can't find a coalition. My 5 cents is that neither Scholz nor Laschet will be able to get the Greens and FDP to agree to anything, which leads to another SPD- CDU grand coalition, just with SPD leading it instead.Who replaces her, left or right?
Is that kind of like the Democrats holding a razor thin majority in Congress and being able to accomplish little even though they technically have the 'majority'?Most likely Olaf Scholz, the SPD leader, but considering the close result CDU's Armin Laschet might get a chance if Scholz can't find a coalition. My 5 cents is that neither Scholz nor Laschet will be able to get the Greens and FDP to agree to anything, which leads to another SPD- CDU grand coalition, just with SPD leading it instead.
Did she know she was going to be out?Who replaces her, left or right?
Yes, she decided already after last election that she would resign as CDU head, and let the new leadership lead CDU this election.Did she know she was going to be out?
Coalition forming in countries with multi party systems is a Byzantine process of backstabbing and grandstanding, where parties have to decide what they can compromise on, or whether any compromise is desirable at all. Sometimes it might be better to sit in the Opposition where you don't have to compromise than be part of a government that does things your voters won't like. The Grand Coalitions between CDU and SPD that has happened quite often during the Merkel years was not because anyone wanted them, both CDU and SPD would rather avoid that scenario, and the voters hate them. They have been formed because no other alternatives were viable with the smaller parties being unwilling to buckle on their key issues.Is that kind of like the Democrats holding a razor thin majority in Congress and being able to accomplish little even though they technically have the 'majority'?
I was thinking a system like that would be good for the US, to break the two party gridlock, but it sounds as if politicians are difficult everywhere.Coalition forming in countries with multi party systems is a Byzantine process of backstabbing and grandstanding, where parties have to decide what they can compromise on, or whether any compromise is desirable at all. Sometimes it might be better to sit in the Opposition where you don't have to compromise than be part of a government that does things your voters won't like. The Grand Coalitions between CDU and SPD that has happened quite often during the Merkel years was not because anyone wanted them, both CDU and SPD would rather avoid that scenario, and the voters hate them. They have been formed because no other alternatives were viable with the smaller parties being unwilling to buckle on their key issues.
I was thinking a system like that would be good for the US, to break the two party gridlock, but it sounds as if politicians are difficult everywhere.
Multi party systems tend to force compromises, and give smaller parties that represent interests the big parties don't care about an opportunity to become relevant. Sometimes they tend to cause alot of headache of course, especially during coalition negotiations.I was thinking a system like that would be good for the US, to break the two party gridlock, but it sounds as if politicians are difficult everywhere.
What you're really saying is the democrats get too many victories for your liking.I was thinking a system like that would be good for the US, to break the two party gridlock, but it sounds as if politicians are difficult everywhere.
Not at all. I'm an Independent, but I don't know where you would get that idea.What you're really saying is the democrats get too many victories for your liking.
Of course.Did she know she was going to be out?
Is that what she's really saying? You know this how? Don't worry, I really don't expect an honest answer.What you're really saying is the democrats get too many victories for your liking.
WOW, I haven't seen Kraut since the old WWII books and you ain't that old...Who replaces her, left or right?
There are some people here I think went into some kind of hybernation around 1928, and only recently woke up.WOW, I haven't seen Kraut since the old WWII books and you ain't that old...
When I served we used Komrade or 'Rade for Germans- what terms did you use when you served???
They are not Krauts, they are Germans.Who replaces her, left or right?
Actually there is no constitutional stipulation that government be formed by the strongest party, but putting Laschet into Chancellorship now would have a pretty disgusting taste. To the point that any such government would be so unpopular with the public that it would be most imprudent for any party (the potential small coalition partners included) to risk it.They are not Krauts, they are Germans.
And the biggest party normally produces the Kanzler (prime-minister). The CDU/CSU (center right, Christian democrats) has been seriously hit by big losses, the SPD (center left, socialist democrats) has made large gains and now seems to be the largest party.
The most logical government is not black/red or red/black (SPD and CDU/CSU) but the stoplight coalition, red/yellow/green (SPD, FDP liberal right, and the Green party).
That is why I said normally, there is even a possibility that CDU/CSU could join forces with the Green party and the FDP (the natural partner of the CDU/CSU).Actually there is no constitutional stipulation that government be formed by the strongest party, but putting Laschet into Chancellorship now would have a pretty disgusting taste. To the point that any such government would be so unpopular with the public that it would be most imprudent for any party (the potential small coalition partners included) to risk it.
Of course one can count on the short voter memory but when the biggest loser of this election still tries to cling to power (by blathering about forming a Conservative-Green- Liberal Right coalition), that memory may last longer than usual.
Within the CDU (and especially the CSU) there is already a lot of whetting of the long knives, on the premise that keeping this incompetent fool (Laschet) will do them even more harm in the future than he's done already.
Not that I'm particularly sympathetic to the alternative SPD-Green-FDP government (should it come to pass), but losers belong on the opposition benches.That is why I said normally, there is even a possibility that CDU/CSU could join forces with the Green party and the FDP (the natural partner of the CDU/CSU).
I personally like what we call a minority government. Unlike Germany and Israel, there is no need in Canada to form a formal governing coalition. The party that wins the most seats forms the government and their leader becomes the PM even though the total seats held by other parties is greater. However, to govern, they must form informal coalitions with other parties to get bills passed. If all the other parties join forces they can force a vote of non confidence which triggers a new election. Therefore the minority government is forced to compromise with at least one other party to get legislation passed. It's checks and balances at its best.I was thinking a system like that would be good for the US, to break the two party gridlock, but it sounds as if politicians are difficult everywhere