Elections in Germany today

I hope never to see the AfD in power. Many are holocaust deniers, anti-semitic, use Nazi language, and the youth wing in particular want to over turn the democratic order. The youth Wing was designated as "extremist" in 2023.

www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/german-regional-far-right-leader-sentenced-for-using-nazi-symbolism/

Germany has an interesting political profile, as the left groups have a strong street presence and vote too.

It’s going to be interesting to see which parties form the ruling alliance, or if it’s going to take a lot of manoeuvring to get to that point. I hope it is settled quickly, because Europe really would benefit from a strong German presence in negotiations right now.

Let’s hope for the right vote, as opposed to the far right vote 🙏🙏

The German economy is a shadow of its former state and there are lots of clouds on the horizon, expect the disenchanted to move to the right. It’s no longer going to be EU paymaster which will affect others as well

”The Extreme Right in Germany is so reminiscent of 1930s”

Agreed Claremont.

And of course, Hitler was Austrian, not German.

Liam Halligan in the Telegraph this morning (I like him):

“ Liam Halligan
23 February 2025 8:00am GMT

Friedrich Merz – the 69-year-old Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader – looks set to become German chancellor after federal elections on Sunday.

Having served a lacklustre four-year tenure, Olaf Scholz of the Social Democratic Party will certainly lose the top job. While the make-up of the ruling coalition remains in play, Merz will run a very different government to both Scholz and his CDU predecessor, Angela Merkel, shifting his party decidedly towards the Right.

That’s not surprising, with Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) likely to be Germany’s official opposition, commanding around 140 to 150 seats in the 630-seat Bundestag, on around 20pc of the vote.

AfD is likely to have doubled its support since 2021, on a platform of tough anti-crime policies including the forced “re-migration” of illegal arrivals. With some members closely-linked to neo-Nazi movements, AfD will dominate the headlines after these pivotal German elections.

Enjoying strong support among younger voters who are worried about job security and rapid cultural change, AfD could form Germany’s government after the next scheduled federal elections in 2029.

Whether that happens depends in large part on Germany’s ability to stage a dramatic economic recovery.

Back in February 2022, days after Russia invaded Ukraine, Olaf Scholz said Germany faced a “zeitenwende” – or turning point. The country needed to find a new growth engine.

But instead of the European Union’s powerhouse achieving rapid post-lockdown growth or playing a truly decisive role in the continent’s most serious military conflict in seventy years, the country has since stagnated.

For the last quarter century, Germany has been fuelled by cheap energy from Russia and lucrative exports to China. That model is now broken, just as a resurgent Donald Trump is upending Nato and threatening tariffs on the EU, leaving the world’s fourth-largest economy mired in stagnation and angst about the future.”

Cont.
(Apologies for length but it’s behind a paywall. Just scroll past if not interested).

“After the Second World War, West Germany staged the Wirtschaftswunder, or the “miracle on the Rhine”. The war-ravaged economy rapidly recovered thanks to highly-skilled manufacturing and radical reforms. Back in the early 2000s too, bold policies sparked growth, lowering unemployment. But under Scholz, Germany’s cosy elites have sat on their laurels, sticking to old industries instead of adapting to new digital realities.

Incoming-chancellor Merz is likely to form a CDU government, in coalition with either the SPD, the Greens – or possibly both. He must toughen-up Germany’s asylum system following a recent spate of terror attacks and counter US criticism of his country’s armed forces.

But above all, Merz must kick-start an ailing economy, possibly by loosening the constitutional brake on borrowing, but most definitely by launching supply-side reforms encouraging competition. That involves cutting through Germany’s notorious red tape.“

We will know the result tomorrow! Meanwhile here in the UK we're lurching further left. Businesses are being told that to secure government contracts they need to demonstrate DEI and net zero. Oh, and apparently we need fewer strong men to be firefighters as diversity beats saving lives.

My son in law’s brother (fireman, lovely man) said 2 female hires hadn’t worked out. One female apparently didn’t have the strength to operate a power hose at a big incident. She cried.

We've ended up with the worst government at the worst time. Thanks, useless plastic Tories.

Thanks FriedGreenTomatoes2 for the interesting info.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

We will know the result tomorrow! Meanwhile here in the UK we're lurching further left. Businesses are being told that to secure government contracts they need to demonstrate DEI and net zero. Oh, and apparently we need fewer strong men to be firefighters as diversity beats saving lives.

My son in law’s brother (fireman, lovely man) said 2 female hires hadn’t worked out. One female apparently didn’t have the strength to operate a power hose at a big incident. She cried.

We've ended up with the worst government at the worst time. Thanks, useless plastic Tories.

On your point of fire fighters, why would this female fire fighter be at a “big incident”, it sounds very likely that both she and the other female would never have made it through the training.

Did you know approximately a quarter of new fire fighters (male & female) drop out before training ends?

Sorry, but I find your comments around diversity quite offensive and ignorant.

Incidentally the first female fire fighter was appointed full time way way back in 1982

www.westyorksfire.gov.uk/news/service-hears-uks-first-female-firefighter

Should women stay at home or just be nurses or typists?

We have many female police, females in the building trade, and many other traditionally male professions, doing just as well as their male colleagues!

I can understand your final paragraph Cossy, because you have shared details of your family. However I don’t think anyone should be appointed to a job, or promoted, just because they tick a diversity box. Effectively, that’s what the government is seeking in companies to which it awards contracts.

Barleyfields

I can understand your final paragraph Cossy, because you have shared details of your family. However I don’t think anyone should be appointed to a job, or promoted, just because they tick a diversity box. Effectively, that’s what the government is seeking in companies to which it awards contracts.

I completely agree and let me assure you that ANY job post should be given to the best candidate irrespective of gender or skin colour or religion

That was in reply to your post of 15.25.

Of course there are female firefighters, police officers and in many other traditionally male occupations - but I’m sure you would agree that they have to be able to do the job properly and not burst into tears if found inadequate.

Barleyfields

That was in reply to your post of 15.25.

Of course there are female firefighters, police officers and in many other traditionally male occupations - but I’m sure you would agree that they have to be able to do the job properly and not burst into tears if found inadequate.

I do agree, where a female might cry, (in frustration), a male counterpoint might shout and swear. Neither reactions are acceptable, but sadly they happen.thanks for clarifying

Meanwhile here in the UK we're lurching further left. Businesses are being told that to secure government contracts they need to demonstrate DEI and net zero.

Straight out of the Telegraph word for word. Its not that simple.

Specifically, Why do you think the current targets for net zero and DEI currently on place are not reasonable for the size of firms that they apply to? What do you think of the timescales?

I think targets for DEI are wholly wrong. Everyone should be appointed to a job because of their ability to do it, not because they tick a diversity box.

As regards the current target for net zero, I think it’s completely insane and has no regard to the reality of people’s lives. Vast numbers live in rural areas and have no alternative to using oil and gas for heating and cooking. Nor does the impending ban on selling new petrol/diesel cars have any regard to the country’s car manufacturers. Milliband is a zealot, a total idiot.

'I think targets for DEI are wholly wrong. Everyone should be appointed to a job because of their ability to do it, not because they tick a diversity box.'

of course, we all agree. It is not the case of one against the other. It is right to try to rebalance historical prejudice- so if there are several candidates who are all equally able to do the job and do it well, then it is possible to appoint the one who belongs to a group which is not fairly represented in the profession, etc.

Trump now is doing totally the opposite- getting rid of extremely able and successful people, who have proven their worth, because they represent other groups aparts form white male. That surely is totally wrong.

The early exit polls are putting Conservatives first with the AfD second, doubling their previous record.

Disappointment for Musk then.

Cossy

Barleyfields

That was in reply to your post of 15.25.

Of course there are female firefighters, police officers and in many other traditionally male occupations - but I’m sure you would agree that they have to be able to do the job properly and not burst into tears if found inadequate.

I do agree, where a female might cry, (in frustration), a male counterpoint might shout and swear. Neither reactions are acceptable, but sadly they happen.thanks for clarifying

So why find the repeating of what I’d been told ‘insulting’ Cossy? 🤔

‘Offensive and ignorant’ is what you said!

I think it’s because of her family situation, I won’t say more but she has talked about her daughters here.

Ah.
A touchy subject then, maybe best avoided?