German Federal Election 2021 - Who will succeed Angela Merkel?

[Sheilbh]

The conservative candidate has tweets that suggest he supported Assad, he is friendly on Russia, his party just faces a corruption affair with Azerbaijan of all countries.

Yeah - his tweets doubting the evidence on Russia's responsibility for the Salisbury attack have got a fair bit of attention from foreign policy people in the UK.

[Josquius]

Go greens go
Amazing stuff.

[Eddie Teach]

I must say that the possibility of the Greens winning a national election in Germany was not something I expected to see.

The German Greens are not like other Greens though - especially on foreign policy

not a chance we should take

The Germans will take it for you.


Btw, who is Sonstige?

[Zanza]

That is German for "Others", about 20 or so small parties. You need to win 5% of the overall vote to get seats in parliament though.

[Syt]

Similar energy?

[Eddie Teach]

First guy may just be tired.

[Admiral Yi]

Second dude might need to take a dump.

[Eddie Teach]

Or he might have just taken one in his pants.

[Zanza]

The three top candidates (Laschet, Baerbock, Scholz) had a first TV debate on Europe/foreign policy:

- All three see the US as the most important partner of the EU, but Laschet mentioned close partnership with the UK as well
- Baerbock and Scholz want to move to EU majority voting (I.e. remove national veto) on foreign, security and fiscal policy, Laschet only on the former two
- Laschet commits on the 2% GDP goal for NATO (currently 1.56%), Scholz pointed out that he raised spending every year, but no clear commitment, Baerbock's party is against this goal and she made vague suggestions regarding more European military capabilities, especially cyber security
- On Israel/Palestine, Laschet wants a two state solution and no talks with Hamas, Baerbock said steps need to be aligned with US and weapons exports to Israel must be closely checked (but did not rule them out) and diplomatic channels to Hamas should be used, all commit on supporting Israeli security
- on Nordstream 2, Laschet and Scholz are in favor, but want to ensure energy security for Ukraine etc., Baerbock is against Nordstream 2 and thinks relying on contractual obligations by Moscow on energy security for Eastern Europe is naive
- On migrants, Scholz and Laschet want to continue with Merkels  attempts at a redistribution mechanism with a coalition of the willing, Baerbock considers guarding the EU frontier important, but wants to reform Frontex to also include maritime rescue, all see Frontex alleged human right violations critical

[Habbaku]

Jesus, it sure is nice to read about a country where all the people gunning for the top job are basically sensible and want good policies, even if I disagree on some particulars.

[DGuller]

Maybe what we need to do is for US to occupy us for a decade or two and install some sensible system of governance.

[HisMajestyBOB]

The three top candidates (Laschet, Baerbock, Scholz) had a first TV debate on Europe/foreign policy:

- All three see the US as the most important partner of the EU, but Laschet mentioned close partnership with the UK as well
- Baerbock and Scholz want to move to EU majority voting (I.e. remove national veto) on foreign, security and fiscal policy, Laschet only on the former two
- Laschet commits on the 2% GDP goal for NATO (currently 1.56%), Scholz pointed out that he raised spending every year, but no clear commitment, Baerbock's party is against this goal and she made vague suggestions regarding more European military capabilities, especially cyber security
- On Israel/Palestine, Laschet wants a two state solution and no talks with Hamas, Baerbock said steps need to be aligned with US and weapons exports to Israel must be closely checked (but did not rule them out) and diplomatic channels to Hamas should be used, all commit on supporting Israeli security
- on Nordstream 2, Laschet and Scholz are in favor, but want to ensure energy security for Ukraine etc., Baerbock is against Nordstream 2 and thinks relying on contractual obligations by Moscow on energy security for Eastern Europe is naive
- On migrants, Scholz and Laschet want to continue with Merkels  attempts at a redistribution mechanism with a coalition of the willing, Baerbock considers guarding the EU frontier important, but wants to reform Frontex to also include maritime rescue, all see Frontex alleged human right violations critical

I don't get it. Where's the authoritarian populism? Where's the deranged ranting that becomes a mainstream political position?

[DGuller]

The three top candidates (Laschet, Baerbock, Scholz) had a first TV debate on Europe/foreign policy:

- All three see the US as the most important partner of the EU, but Laschet mentioned close partnership with the UK as well
- Baerbock and Scholz want to move to EU majority voting (I.e. remove national veto) on foreign, security and fiscal policy, Laschet only on the former two
- Laschet commits on the 2% GDP goal for NATO (currently 1.56%), Scholz pointed out that he raised spending every year, but no clear commitment, Baerbock's party is against this goal and she made vague suggestions regarding more European military capabilities, especially cyber security
- On Israel/Palestine, Laschet wants a two state solution and no talks with Hamas, Baerbock said steps need to be aligned with US and weapons exports to Israel must be closely checked (but did not rule them out) and diplomatic channels to Hamas should be used, all commit on supporting Israeli security
- on Nordstream 2, Laschet and Scholz are in favor, but want to ensure energy security for Ukraine etc., Baerbock is against Nordstream 2 and thinks relying on contractual obligations by Moscow on energy security for Eastern Europe is naive
- On migrants, Scholz and Laschet want to continue with Merkels  attempts at a redistribution mechanism with a coalition of the willing, Baerbock considers guarding the EU frontier important, but wants to reform Frontex to also include maritime rescue, all see Frontex alleged human right violations critical

I don't get it. Where's the authoritarian populism? Where's the deranged ranting that becomes a mainstream political position?

Germany doesn't do this sort of thing.

[Zanza]

We have our share of lunatics too, but so far both on the right and left, they are at <= 10%.

The fascist AfD wants "Dexit", i.e. to leave the EU including Euro and Schengen, stop all migration to Germany, especially family members of refugees, ban minarets, stop remembrance and atonement for the crimes of the Third Reich, the Bundeswehr should live "German military traditions"..

The socialist Left Party wants to leave NATO and close US bases, no German soldiers abroad, no weapons exports, a "normalisation" of relations to Russia, solidarity with Palestinians...

[Razgovory]

We have our share of lunatics too, but so far both on the right and left, they are at <= 10%.

The fascist AfD wants "Dexit", i.e. to leave the EU including Euro and Schengen, stop all migration to Germany, especially family members of refugees, ban minarets, stop remembrance and atonement for the crimes of the Third Reich, the Bundeswehr should live "German military traditions"..

The socialist Left Party wants to leave NATO and close US bases, no German soldiers abroad, no weapons exports, a "normalisation" of relations to Russia, solidarity with Palestinians...

Well, they lost my vote.