halcy.de v4 » Version four-point-oh and counting.Two weeks!

So, the german national elections are over, and the results are in: (Graph via NekoMimiModo, thanks for that)

(Black: CDU/CSU [Conservative], Yellow: FDP [Libertarian/Conservative], Red: SPD [Social democratic], Green: Green party, Pink: Left party [Left of the SPD])

The government will be a coalition between the CDU/CSU and the FDP, a very conservative combination. So, here’s what I expect of those parties not part of the government for the next four years.

SPD

The SPD have gotten their worst election resut since 1949, and lost more voters in one election cycle than any party in germany ever before. As one of the members of the JuSos (SPD-affine youth organization) put it, people do not trust the SPD anymore.

This has its reasons. Over the last eight years, the SPD has been sliding more and more to the right. By now, they have become much like a second CDU, with only slight variations in method. This has to stop. The SPD has to return to their social-democrat roots. That includes more democracy from the base up, with members being included in party decicions much more, a formulation of very clear goals and policies and sticking to them, and a general shift back to the left.

Furthermore, the SPD has to hold the CDU to their promise to keep the FDP in check on workers rights, which the FDP wants to dramatically curb in the name of a “free” market.

Green party

The green party has been in the opposition for a while, and needs to continue their work there as before, especially on nuclear phaseout and alternative energies. But, much like the SPD, the green party needs to finally clearly formulate what their policy on such issues as personal liberties and surveillance is, instead of saying one thing and doing another.

Left party

The left party needs to get in a position where it would actually be reasonable for the SPD to enter into a coalition with them. That means, mostly, personal changes. Gysi and other ex-SED folk are just not an option.

Pirate party

The pirate party will have to continue their work outside of the parliament, educating people on the topics they care about. The weeks before the election were great, this work needs to be kept up.

Politically, they need to keep reminding the FDP that they promised to keep the CDU in check on personal liberties and surveillance - sadly, the FDP tends to be a little weak on the liberty part unless the rights of big companies are concerned.

Other than that, the pirate party has to start having an opinion on more topics than it currently has, if it wants to have a chance in further elections. And there certainly are a lot of topics that the established parties tend to overlook that are in dire need of some pirate attention. This, and strong local work, can help bring the pirate party closer to their goals.

(English translation: Scroll down.)

Nur noch mal zur Erinnerung: Heute ist Wahl.

Also auf gehts, schnell noch mal die Programme diverser Parteien durchgehen, damit die Entscheidung morgen nach Argumenten gefällt werden kann und nicht nach “Ach, der name hört sich cool an”. Bei mir werden es dieses Jahr wohl die Piraten werden, die ich euch hier auch noch einmal wärmstens ans Herz legen will. Manche würden mir ja nun vorwerfen, meine Stimme für eine “Ein-Themen-Partei” wegzuwerfen, aber in unseren Mehrparteiensystem, in dem ohne Koalition sowieso nichts geht, halte ich eine Stimmabgabe für die Piraten, die in den Themen auf die es mir im Moment am meisten ankommt am nächsten an meiner Meinung sind, durchaus für vertretbar.

Und bevor jetzt wieder Leute anfangen mit “Nein ich wähle nicht weil ich hasse das SYSTEM!”: Nichtwählen ist feige, besonders nun, da wir wirklich viele auch kleinere Parteien zur Wahl haben. Wenn schon nichts anderes, dann geht wenigstens und macht eurem Protest Ausdruck, indem ihr ungültig wählt. Wer sich weigert abzustimmen, der hat auch sein Recht nachher zu meckern verwirkt. ;)

Fail-Wahl verhindern - am 27ten September Wählen gehen!

 

In English:

Just in case you forgot: The german national elections are today.

Time to re-read the parties programmes, so that the decision tomorrow can be based on arguments and not “Eh, that name sounds cool”. For me, it’ll be the Pirate Party this time around, which I want to heartily recommend to you. Some would argue that I am throwing my vote away by voting for a “One-Topic-Party”, but I think in our multi-party system where governing outside of a coalition is pretty much impossible anyways, a vote for the Pirates, who are very close to my opinion in a lot of topics I care about a lot, is entirely justifiable.

And, for the Members of the “I don’t vote because I hate the SYSTEM!” crowd: Not voting is cowardly, especially with the huge number of smaller parties on the ballot this time around. If nothing else, then at least go and make your vote invalid to give your protest a voice. If you refuse to vote, then you’ve lost any right to complain afterwards. ;)

(This joke really only works in german because it relies on the german word for “Election”, which is “Wahl”, and the german word for “Whale”, which is “Wal”, sounding like each other, so avoiding a “Fail-Wahl” makes sense. But go vote tomorrow, anyways.)