I Have to Ask

[billroper]

Would any of my German friends on LJ care to comment on yesterday's election? It will probably be much more informative than what I'm getting from the U.S. press...

Comments

[sibylle]

Actually, I think the problem as I see it is that 'the commies' now got 54 seats, not 2 and thusthe parties that can theoretically form coalitions now actually comprise only about 91% of the votes in the Bundestag (the Commies having garnered 8.5% and everyone else asserting time-and-again (lets see if they stick to it) that they'd in no way rule with the Commies)) so basically they need to form a coalition that'll get more than 50% of the votes in the Bundestag (to be able to pass laws, elect the chancelor etc) and can only from that out of about 91%, instead of 100%.

So right now, no conceivable coalition really has a majority at all and no-one can rule - the only coalitions possible being ones one or the other party that'd have to be involved spoke out against vehemently during electioneering. So no one can rule, really.

[jrittenhouse.livejournal.com]

Greens = commies? I wouldn't go that far.

[billroper]

And you wouldn't have to.

The "Linke" party -- former Communists -- won 54 seats. Check here and you'll see.

[jrittenhouse.livejournal.com]

Cripes, you're right. The figures I had were totally - aw, cr@p.

[sibylle]

No, the far reds "die Linke" - they're the old PDS, re-formed with a new name, and now got 8.5% of the German vote (led by Gysi and Lafontaine).

Not the greens (they only got 8.2%).