An introduction to German politics

Since most of you here are not German, I thought some of you might be interested in a short introduction to German politics. Some of you know will probably know much of it, but for everybody else, here it is:




Germany is a federal republic consisting of 16 states ("Länder"). Germany has 82 million inhabitants and is the most populous country in the European Union (followed by France, Italy and the UK with ca. 60 million each).


Germany has a parliamentary political system, like in Britain, Israel and many other European countries: The people elects the parliament ("Bundestag") and a majority in the parliament then elects the head of government, the Federal Chancellor. One term lasts 4 years.

Unlike Britain, Germany is a federal state, so the federal states are represented in a second chamber of parliament, the "Bundesrat" (=Federal Council). The "senators" are not elected directly, but each state government appoints their representants. Their number varies between three and seven IIRC, depending on the population of the respective state.

While the Chancellor is the head of government, Germany also has an equivalent to the British Queen: The Federal President, who is not directly elected, but by the parliament and an equal number of state representants. The President has not much political power compared to the Chancellor. His job is more representative and above partisan bickering -- like the monarch in parliamentary monarchies. His term is 5 years.




The federal parliament is elected by a proportional representation system, unlike in Britain, but much like in the Netherlands or Israel: After an election, the seats are distributed proportionally over the parties according to their number of votes -- so if party A makes 35% of the votes, it gets approximately 35% of the seats. An exception is due to the 5%-hurdle: Parties with less than 5.0% of the votes don't enter the parliament. (Actually, it's a bit more complicated, but I'll leave it at that.)

Due to this proportional representation, the political landscape is very colorful: We don't have just two large party dominating it all, but there are five parties in the German federal parliament currently.

Because of this, to form a government majority to elect a chancellor, when no party wins 50%+ of the seats, two or more parties have to agree on a cooperation treaty, forming a coalition. Just like the cons and libs in Britain have formed a coalition -- but in Germany, it's common and not an exception. Only once, in 1957, one party has won 50% of the seats alone (the conservative Christian Democrats, CDU/CSU).

Since 2009, a center-right coalition of conservative CDU/CSU and libertarian FDP is governing Germany.


In order to find catchy labels for different coalitions, we use colors in colloquial language for the different parties:

(to be continued...)

Thanks German guy, that's helpful and interesting. I almost wish the US government could operate more that way. It sounds like representatives might be more accountable to and more likely to follow the wishes of their constituants. Also, while we have more than two parties, the extra parties do little more now than split the votes and help out one or the other of our main parties during presidential elections. I'd like to see that change, and other parties be more a part of the political scene here.

Do large coporations not have so much influence on German government, and are there less or no lobbyists?

In order to find catchy labels for different coalitions, we use colors in colloquial language for the different parties:

(sorry, the pictures got a bit messed up)

BLACK:

(picture: see above)

The conservative Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) get the color black. Probably it's due to the black robes of priests, reminding of their proximity to Catholicism in its early days. Actually, the Christian Democrats are two parties -- the CSU ("Christian Social Union") in Bavaria and its sister party CDU ("Christian Democratic Union") in all other states, but they act as a united block on national level. It was founded 1946/47.

On the picture, you see CSU chairman and Prime Minister of Bavaria Horst Seehofer and CDU chairwoman (and current Chancellor) Angela Merkel.


RED:

(picture: see above)

The center-left Social Democrats (SPD) is currently in the opposition and usually gets the "red" label. It is the largest moderately left-leaning party. It is the oldest German party, founded in 1875. It used to be a Marxist labor party, but in 1918, the radical split off to found the Communist Party, while the SPD kept establishing and defending the Weimar Republic. It was the only party to vote against Hitler's Enabling Act in 1933 and was outlawed 1933-45. After 1945, it was refounded. In 1959, it finally abandoned Marxism and became a mainstream center-left party.

On the picture, you see SPD economy expert and former Finance Minister 2005-09 Peer Steinbrück, SPD chairman Sigmar Gabriel and Parliamentary SPD floor leader Frank-Walter Steinmeier.


YELLOW:

(picture: see above)

The libertarian Free Democrats (FDP) are yellow. In Germany, they call themselves "liberal", but this term has never become synonymous to "left" as in America. They consider themselves traditional, classic liberals. So the closest analogy to America is the "libertarian" description. But they are not as radical as the Libertarian Party in the USA, more like fiscal conservative social moderates within the Republican Party. The FDP was founded in 1946/47 as well. It is considered the natural junior coalition partner of the conservative CDU/CSU -- and in fact was in that position 1949-57, 1961-66, 1982-1998 and again since 2009.

On the picture, you see current Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle and FDP chairman, Vice Chancellor and Economy Minister Philipp Rösler.


GREEN:



Alliance'90/The Greens, usually simply called "the Greens", naturally gets the color green. It is focused on environmentalism, social progressive and liberal ideas, and is considered the natural coalition junior partner of the center-left SPD (former Chancellor Schröder governed with such a red-green coalition 1998-2005). It was founded on national level in 1979 and has entered the parliament ever since 1983. At first it was still rather radical, many pacifists, radical environmentalists and far-leftists, but after three decades and seven years in the government, the party has become much more moderate.

You see Green co-chairwoman Claudia Roth, co-chairman Cem Özdemir and parliamentary Green floor leader Jürgen Trittin on the picture.


PINK:



The socialist Left Party (Die Linke) is often pink or simply a darker red. It is a far-left party that openly claims to be "socialist", parts of it embrace Marxism and there even is a "communist platform" within the Left Party. It is the successor of the former communist state party SED in the East German dictatorship 1949-1990, which reformed itself in 1990, threw some of the old stalinists out and put the "German Gorbachevs" in power. In 2005, this party united with a far-left union-oriented split-off from the SPD to form the Left Party. There are still quite a few East German nostalgics within its ranks, and various different types of far-left people.

The Left Party is especially strong in former East Germany, where it wins up to 30% in elections, but only around 5% in the West (11.9% on national level in 2009). On the picture, you see Left Party parliamentary floor leader Gregor Gysi and former Left Party chairman Oskar Lafontaine.


How many votes do these parties get?



Election in September 2009:

Party / % of votes

Conservative CDU/CSU -- black: 33.8%
Center-left SPD -- red: 23.0%
Libertarian FDP -- yellow: 14.6%
Socialist Left Party -- dark red: 11.9%
Progressive-Environmentalist Alliance'90/Greens -- green: 10.7%

All other parties made less than 5% and thus did not enter the parliament.

CDU/CSU and FDP had a majority of seats to form a conservative-libertarian "dream coalition" -- a "black-yellow coalition".

Just like CDU/CSU and FDP usually team up for a black-yellow coalition, SPD and Greens are close and usually prefer a "red-green" coalition when possible.

The left party is usually considered too far out there to be a partner for the SPD. In 2005, there was a stalemate and neither black-yellow nor red-green had won a majority, so instead of forming a "red-red-green" coalition, the SPD decided to rather go with the conservative CDU/CSU into a "grand coalition" -- the common term for a black-red coalition, because the two large parties are teaming up.


How does it look like historically?

Black-Yellow CDU/CSU-FDP coalitions governed from 1949-1957, 1961-1966, 1982-1998 and again since 2009.

1957-1961, the black CDU/CSU won a majority and could govern alone.

1966-1969 and 2005-2009, a "grand coalition" of CDU/CSU and SPD governed Germany.

1969-1982, a red-yellow SPD-FDP coalition governed Germany. This "social liberal" coalition was formed after the FDP had temporarily switched to social liberalism. In 1982, the "neoliberal" people inspired by Thatcher and Reaganomics took over and the FDP switched back to the CDU/CSU.

1998-2005, a red-green coalition governed Germany under Chancellor Gerhard Schröder.

I'm glad you're doing this GG! Good stuff!

Warum...I mean why is the bird in the Reichstag soo chubby..while the one on the flag is nice & slim?

Thunder said:

Warum...I mean why is the bird in the Reichstag soo chubby..while the one on the flag is nice & slim?

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Yeah, many here noticed that too:

We call it "the fat hen"!

Rosie1 said:

Thanks German guy, that's helpful and interesting. I almost wish the US government could operate more that way. It sounds like representatives might be more accountable to and more likely to follow the wishes of their constituants. Also, while we have more than two parties, the extra parties do little more now than split the votes and help out one or the other of our main parties during presidential elections. I'd like to see that change, and other parties be more a part of the political scene here.

Do large coporations not have so much influence on German government, and are there less or no lobbyists?

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Oh, I think there is much lobbyism in Germany too. But at least its influence on the elections is lower than in the US: There is public campaign funding, every party that wins at least 1.0% of the votes gets public money. The candidates don't rely so much on donations. This naturally favors smaller parties and makes it easier for "third parties" to be successful. But of course, the larger parties get most of their money from donations too.

I often wondered what the American political landscape would look like, if you had proportional representation. Probably you'd not just have the Republican Party, but two or three parties on the right: A social conservative and religious right party and a fiscal conservative, more libertarian-leaning party. Probably the same on the left: A more center-left Democratic party and a far left Green Party? Would be interesting what kind of coalitions would emerge.

I would vote for the black party. You've got the right people in charge right now. No wonder Germany is doing so well...

Peter Grimm said:

I would vote for the black party. You've got the right people in charge right now. No wonder Germany is doing so well...

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Be careful! The German "conservatives" are no longer what they once were!

Many real conservatives feel abandoned by Merkel, because she allegedly has shifted the CDU to the left (I'd say more into the center): She gave up many formerly conservative positions. She supports a nuclear power phase out now, her family minister said "gay couples who marry are living Christian values", the CDU supports a minimum wage now, they are reluctant to participate in war missions, they even support a capital transfer tax now!

A left-leaning person would say "they are so successful, because they copy the left"!

I believe real American conservatives would be disappointed in what Merkel's CDU has become. And hot topics like abortion or gay marriage are no longer topics in Germany anyway.

So there is some speculation some more right-leaning CDU members might defect eventually and form a new, really conservative party.

Very interesting, thank you GG.

German guy said:

Be careful! The German "conservatives" are no longer what they once were!

Many real conservatives feel abandoned by Merkel, because she allegedly has shifted the CDU to the left (I'd say more into the center): She gave up many formerly conservative positions. She supports a nuclear power phase out now, her family minister said "gay couples who marry are living Christian values", the CDU supports a minimum wage now, they are reluctant to participate in war missions, they even support a capital transfer tax now!

A left-leaning person would say "they are so successful, because they copy the left"!

I believe real American conservatives would be disappointed in what Merkel's CDU has become. And hot topics like abortion or gay marriage are no longer topics in Germany anyway.

So there is some speculation some more right-leaning CDU members might defect eventually and form a new, really conservative party.

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She sounds a lot like Mitt Romney.

Actually, that sounds a lot like our "moderate" Republicans.

Even with five political parties, the conservatives can't find a home.

Peter Grimm said:

She sounds a lot like Mitt Romney.

Actually, that sounds a lot like our "moderate" Republicans.

Even with five political parties, the conservatives can't find a home.

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The center-left SPD has faced its worst case already: Former Chancellor Schröder, who governed 1998-2005, had shifted the SPD to the right (or at least into the center) already. He made many important reforms, like a reform of the unemployment support system. And he deregulated the financial sector.

Although many say today Germany's economy is doing so well because of these reforms, many on the left felt betrayed. It's much like an American Republican who suddenly legalized abortion and bans guns! The same felt many SPD voters towards Schröder. And that's why the Left Party suddenly became successul -- and the SPD fell on its worst result in 2009, with 23% of the votes only (the last time they did so bad was in 1932, before Hitler took over).

The Left Party had been at 4% only, not even in the parliament, until Schröder opened the SPD to the right with his "third way" policies. Thanks to him, they now are at 11.9%.

If Merkel doesn't pay attention, a similar thing could happen to her and her CDU/CSU.

By the way, you can see an image about the coalitions in the German states here:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ef/Zusammensetzung_des_Bundesrat.svg

Five states are governed by "black-yellow" conservative libertarian coalitions, four states by "red-green" center-left coalitions (special is just Baden-Württemberg in the south: There, the Greens got stronger than the SPD, so it's technically a "gree-red" coalition).

Brandenburg (in the east, sourrounding Berlin) is the only SPD-Left Party coalition ("red-red").

Most others are "grand coalitions" of CDU-SPD or SPD-CDU.

Fascinating- thanks for posting all the information. I think we would be much better served in this country with a similar style government (as long as our constitution could remain intact ).

What we have here seems to be a perpetual election for the lesser of two evils, and it's degrading us imo.

lizzie said:

Fascinating- thanks for posting all the information. I think we would be much better served in this country with a similar style government (as long as our constitution could remain intact ).

What we have here seems to be a perpetual election for the lesser of two evils, and it's degrading us imo.

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Third parties would actually matter. That would certainly be interesting.

And frau Merkel is so coldblooded and tooough.



Nice thread, German guy, thanks. :2wave:

Canell said:

And frau Merkel is so coldblooded and tooough.

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Yes, doesn't seem like a few beers in her back disturb her ...

... unlike George Bush, who apparently attempted to give her a backrup:



What did Bush say to her? "Either you are with me, or you are against me!"

This is awesome! I had actually wondered once if you'd be willing to share some insight, so thank you for that.

From your descriptions, it sounds like I'd be part of the yellows. The fiscal conservative, moderate social thing, anyway.

German guy said:

We call it "the fat hen"!

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That's what my mother calls Merkel.

Something that I noticed last night, and meant to comment on, was I find it interesting that you have a party called Christian Democrats. If a party in this country tried to attach any religious connotation to their party name, they would be villified in short order. I think it's great that you guys don't have such a visceral reaction to it.

German guy said:

What did Bush say to her? "Either you are with me, or you are against me!"

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I thought he was going to strangle her.
Never mind, I don't want to dilute your awesome thread with too much fun.

tessaesque said:

This is awesome! I had actually wondered once if you'd be willing to share some insight, so thank you for that.

From your descriptions, it sounds like I'd be part of the yellows. The fiscal conservative, moderate social thing, anyway.

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I imagine many libertarian-leaning Americans would be happy if there was a party like that, fiscally conservative, but without the need to bother with the religious right.

But the "yellow" libertarian FDP is in a crisis at the moment. After they entered the government in 2009 again, they gave a very poor performance. In the past decade, they had more or less reduced their platform to three points only: Tax cuts, tax cuts and tax cuts. Once in the government, they got almost no tax cuts through -- but nevertheless stayed in power. And there were many in-fights within the FDP and the coalition, on top of a poor performance of FDP Foreign Minister Westerwelle.

In 2009, the FDP had still won 14.6% of the votes, but soon their numbers dropped in polls rapidly. They lost seven state elections in a row, were kicked out of 5 state parliaments by failing to make at least 5.0% of the votes and are down to 3% on national level now in polls. There is a chance that if there were elections soon, the FDP would not enter the parliament again -- for the first time since 1949! Merkel would have to find a new coalition partner.

lizzie said:

Something that I noticed last night, and meant to comment on, was I find it interesting that you have a party called Christian Democrats. If a party in this country tried to attach any religious connotation to their party name, they would be villified in short order. I think it's great that you guys don't have such a visceral reaction to it.

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That's ironic, because I believe the Republicans in the USA are much more "Christian" than the German Christian Democrats are these days. As I told Peter Grimm above, the CDU/CSU does no longer oppose gay civil unions anymore, doesn't want to restrict abortions (which are legal up to the 3rd month in Germany) and hardly ever emphasizes Christian values in their rhetorics. Many wonder what the "C" in CDU stands for.

The name of the Christian Democrats is probably not much more than tradition. Founded after WW2, Germany needed a tradition to identify with, after the horrible experience with Nazism. What could you do? Nationalism was more or less discredited and Germany was defeated and divided. Socialism was no option for all Germans right of the center -- anti-communism was very strong the USSR was beginning to rear its head in the East. So Christian tradition was the perfect focal point to base your philosophy on for a new Germany. It was also supposed to be a good ethical contrast to Nazism, which at the same time is in no way leftist.

So Christian identity was the way to go for non-leftist (West-)Germans after WW2.

Jredbaron96 said:

That's what my mother calls Merkel.

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I sometimes heard the term "Bundesmutti" ("Federal Mom").

Good stuff, German Guy. I was not surprised to find a largely Catholic political party org still in existence there. The old Centre Party was a force for most of German history, at least since the 1860's or so when Prussia and the Kaiser 'invented' Germany. Old political groups never die, they just adopt new names.

The U.S. could use some serious reform, along with a move to a parliamentary system. However, the corruption here is too endemic for anything to save it, especially now there is no real support for an 'America' as a nation any more. Many of us are jealous of Germans and their sense of being a people and a nation. You have a lot to be thankful for over there.