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Armin Laschet has been elected the chair of the CDU which would make him Angela Merkel's natural successor. He currently presides over Germany's largest state Nord Rhein Westfalen (NRW) which has the largest economy of all Germany's states (larger than Bavaria).

He is a liberal Catholic distinguished by support for Merkels immigration policies, support for the state of Israel, opposition to same sex marriage and dislike of pro Palestinian organisations like BLM.

Some people say he was too quick to want to ease up on covid19 restrictions. No doubt since 26 of Germany's 50 largest companies are based in NRW he was under a lot of business pressure to do that but it angered Merkel and cast some doubt on his ability to make the tough calls.

What do you think about the new candidate to replace Merkel end of this year when she steps down?

Armin Laschet elected leader of Merkel's CDU party
Armin Laschet - Wikipedia
 

Andrewn

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Armin Laschet has been elected the chair of the CDU
Yes, but Markus Söder is a popular favorite. He is head of the CSU that is usually in coalition with CDU. Perhaps he will present the coalition in next election?
 
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Yes, but Markus Söder is a popular favorite. He is head of the CSU that is usually in coalition with CDU. Perhaps he will present the coalition in next election?

Markus Söder has not said he wants to be Chancellor.

Markus Söder is a liberal Protestant in charge of a Catholic state. He is more popular with the voters but the CDU is way ahead in the polls right now anyway. But he has skeletons: He has an illegitimate daughter and has been quite harsh on the whole single mother theme. He wanted Gloria's mother Ulriche to abort her. He has also supported gay marriage. Now he seems to be a family man with three more kids by his current wife Karin ( an heiress - Nuremberg-based Baumüller Group)

On issues of governance he is more solid. His instinct in the Greek crisis was to throw them out of the Euro rather than bail them out. He seems fiscally responsible opposing Euro bonds for instance. He has a reasonable track record as Minister President in Bavaria. He was opposed to letting refugees in during the immigration crisis which showed a lack of compassion. He opposes a multicultural society which could have implications for those with dual nationality for instance. He might be better on security than Laschet. He puts crosses on government buildings in the name of Bavaria not of Christ.

Bavaria has performed appallingly in the current covid19 crisis but not sure how much of that is due to Bavarians being Bavarians and how much to do with Söder.

He is a viable candidate for Chancellor but reminds me of Trump more than Laschet does. Does Germany need an ambitious charismatic or a more reconciling figure right now being the question.

Either one could be Chancellor, but I think Laschet would be a better Team manager and that fits Germany's role in the EU better also.
 
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He is a viable candidate for Chancellor but reminds me of Trump more than Laschet does. Does Germany need an ambitious charismatic or a more reconciling figure right now being the question.

Either one could be Chancellor, but I think Laschet would be a better Team manager and that fits Germany's role in the EU better also.
Trump's actions, before and especially after the election, have made me quite wary of the National Conservatism movement. If Söder is similar to Trump, it's best to stay clear of him. You already have the far-right Alternative für Deutschland party with 13% of the seats in parliament.
 
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Trump's actions, before and especially after the election, have made me quite wary of the National Conservatism movement. If Söder is similar to Trump, it's best to stay clear of him. You already have the far-right Alternative für Deutschland party with 13% of the seats in parliament.

The AFD are not Nazis,they support Israel and like Jews. But they hate Muslims. By American standards they are not that right wing but many Germans were horrified at their Germany first, anti EU and anti immigrant policies. They have declined slightly as have the greens, as the CDU/ CSU have risen. The Green agenda is on backburner as Germans rally round the incumbent ruling party trusting them with the economy in the aftermath of this crisis.

Neither candidate is perfect but Germans do not need a budding dictator right now. The Trump effect may well carry beyond your borders.
 
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Here is an update:

There are 3 candidates now:

Armin Laschet, Christian Democrats
Olaf Scholz, Social Democrats
Annalena Baerbock, The Greens

Annalena Baerbock is a bit of a lightweight from a party with some good ideas but no real experience of governance. Her party's robin hood economics and notions of a green economy would most likely severely erode German competitiveness. She wants to phase out fossil fuels entirely, reduce meat production, introduce a speed limit on the autobahn and eliminate internal flights in Germany with a stronger rail network. She wants to denuclearise Germany and build a Euro army. The implicit anti-Americanism is counterproductive to German security IMHO and woe betide a Germany that had her in charge in the event of a war.

Olaf Scholz is a credible alternative to Laschet. Most Americans would find him kind of left-wing. He is a sensible politician though and one people trust to get the job done.
 
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Annalena Baerbock is a bit of a lightweight from a party with some good ideas but no real experience of governance.

She looked like a shooting star for some time.
But then it was found out that she was not really truthful with her CV, and that she had copied parts of "her" book from elsewhere.
 
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She looked like a shooting star for some time.
But then it was found out that she was not really truthful with her CV, and that she had copied parts of "her" book from elsewhere.

My objection to Baerbock is not a personal one, it is that her party has naive goals that would bankrupt Germany and jeopardize its security.

The ballot system in Germany allows for a split vote. So for example I trust Olaf Scholz as a candidate for Chancellor but could not vote for his party that are speaking in terms of cutting defense spending.

You get two votes in the election. Erste und Zweite Stimme. The first is for a person in the Bundestag to represent your constituency and the second is for a party. I will probably vote CDU for the party and if the SPD candidate has the same instincts as Scholz on defense and foreign policy for the Bundestag for the SPD for the personal candidate. The Bundestag will elect the actual chancellor. I am hoping for a CDU coalition with Olaf Scholz as Chancellor.

The reason for the split in my vote is that Scholz has more conservative instincts than his party and is a better potential candidate on defense and foreign policy. Also, the CDU lacks social compassion and is weak on the environment this time around, and has perhaps been in the driving seat too long for its own good. Germany is a very unequal place and there does need to be a higher level of social concern than the CDU gives right now. Also, I am more in favor of immigration than most people in the CDU. That said I trust the CDU more generally to keep a broadly conservative social framework in place in Germany and on the economy e.g. lower debt, keep the economy moving. So neither party really works for me but the compromise of a Coalition would with Schultz in charge. It is a shame I cannot vote for Scholz directly. Also, I need to examine the declarations of the local SPD candidate to make sure he is on the Scholz train rather than the left-wing of his party. As you can see the system is quite complicated and leads to very local decisions to try and achieve favorable national results.
 
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I will probably vote CDU for the party and if the SPD candidate has the same instincts as Schultz on defense and foreign policy for the Bundestag for the SPD for the personal candidate.

That said I trust the CDU more generally to keep a broadly conservative social framework in place in Germany and on the economy e.g. lower debt, keep the economy moving. So neither party really works for me but the compromise of a Coalition would with Schultz in charge.
Why is the FDP not an alternative for you? Do you consider its policies to be the right or the left of the CDU? Why is it not a viable alternative for you?

In Canada, we also have general elections on 9/20 (Germany's elections on 9/26). Currently, we have 4 parties with > 4% of parliament seats each (you have 6, counting CDU/CSU as one party). Here, if no party gets > 50% of the seats, the tradition is to form a minority government rather than a coalition.

Olaf Schultz has more conservative instincts than his party and is a better potential candidate on defense and foreign policy.
It sounds like he ascribes to Social Liberalism rather than Social Democracy per se.

Political concerns, here, are similar to those you described in Germany. I hope the best Prime Minister / Chancellor wins.
 
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I will vote for the ÖDP - a small and nearly un-known ecological party.
If you support Green policies, why not vote for The Greens? ODP currently has no seats in the German Parliament. Your vote would be wasted, no?
 
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Why is the FDP not an alternative for you? Do you consider its policies to be the right or the left of the CDU? Why is it not a viable alternative for you?

The FDP is the business party. It is extremely socially liberal. So very different to right-wing parties in the USA which are usually socially conservative with the economic neo-liberalism thrown in. It is strong on defense, pro-NATO, pro-EU but very weak on Green issues and does nothing about the massive inequality in wealth distribution in Germany. It is further to the right on economics but its social liberalism is something that Americans might associate more with the Democrats than the Republicans.

In Canada, we also have general elections on 9/20 (Germany's elections on 9/26). Currently, we have 4 parties with > 4% of parliament seats each (you have 6, counting CDU/CSU as one party). Here, if no party gets > 50% of the seats, the tradition is to form a minority government rather than a coalition.

Interesting so I take it the parliament has to build consensus on an issue-by-issue basis?

It sounds like he ascribes to Social Liberalism rather than Social Democracy per se.

The CDU passed the gay wedding law here. So unless you want to vote NDP or AFD which are beyond the pale for other reasons I would regard this as a done deal. But the current German abortion law is the best and most practical in the Western world which is why the CDU must remain a part of any coalition. Abortion in Germany is just about the lowest in the free world. I like the man and trust his instincts but I do not trust his party. The opposite is true of Laschet who I have less personal trust in but whose party and policies I like. Hence my split vote.

Political concerns, here, are similar to those you described in Germany. I hope the best Prime Minister / Chancellor wins.

:)
 
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If you support Green policies, why not vote for The Greens? ODP currently has no seats in the German Parliament. Your vote would be wasted, no?

ÖDP have not bought into the social liberalism of the mainstream Greens but remain committed to a Green Agenda. They are not that bad but do not stand a chance. For me politics is the art of the possible and certain parties are ruled out by being impossible choices and then there are the moral and ideological choices between the viable parties.
 
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The FDP is the business party. It is extremely socially liberal. . . . It is strong on defense, pro-NATO, pro-EU but very weak on Green issues and does nothing about the massive inequality in wealth distribution in Germany. It is further to the right on economics
Thx for explaining.

Interesting so I take it the parliament has to build consensus on an issue-by-issue basis?
Yes, this is exactly the case. This is why the Liberal Party, which currently has a minority government, has chosen to uphold another general election even thought its mandate does not expire for another 2 years.

But the current German abortion law is the best and most practical in the Western world which is why the CDU must remain a part of any coalition. Abortion in Germany is just about the lowest in the free world.
Yes, I agree.

I like the man and trust his instincts but I do not trust his party.
If you're familiar with political parties in Sweden, which party would you say the SPD is closest to?

The opposite is true of Laschet who I have less personal trust in but whose party and policies I like. Hence my split vote.
I'll be voting for the candidate of the Conservative Party of Canada. Its platform is similar to the CDU.

So very different to right-wing parties in the USA which are usually socially conservative with the economic neo-liberalism thrown in.
I have dual citizenship and cannot imagine myself voting for the Republican Party any time soon, it has become like the Right-wing Populist AfD. IMO, there is no viable conservative party in the US at this time.
 
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Thx for explaining.


Yes, this is exactly the case. This is why the Liberal Party, which currently has a minority government, has chosen to uphold another general election even thought its mandate does not expire for another 2 years.


Yes, I agree.


If you're familiar with political parties in Sweden, which party would you say the SPD is closest to?

Swedish Social Democrat Party sounds similar.

I'll be voting for the candidate of the Conservative Party of Canada. Its platform is similar to the CDU.

I would vote Conservative in the UK. But lose my vote next year. CDU is the natural counterpart to that except for the fact that it is more Big State and pro-EU. I think the EU works well for Germany but would like to see a smaller and more efficient state. But Social Liberalism is endemic even in conservative parties these days.

I have dual citizenship and cannot imagine myself voting for the Republican Party any time soon, it has become like the Right-wing Populist AfD. IMO, there is no viable conservative party in the US at this time.

I agree, I have thought of the republicans as my American party most of my adult life even though I have never had a vote there. My Grandfather was from Texas. My wife would vote Democrat and in the last election, I would have joined her in that decision. What I cannot tolerate is this Trump idolatry, the lies about the election, and the incompetence surrounding the covid crisis. Until Trump dies or is displaced by a sane candidate that is not going to change.
 
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If you support Green policies, why not vote for The Greens? ODP currently has no seats in the German Parliament. Your vote would be wasted, no?

Let me explain:
Any new party is small in the beginning.
If nobody ever did vote for small new parties, there would never be a change.
And my vote is not wasted.
Only if I did not vote - then my vote would be wasted.
 
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Swedish Social Democrat Party sounds similar.
I thought the SPD was less socialist than than Swedish Social Democrat Party. But you'd know better.

But Social Liberalism is endemic even in conservative parties these days.
Yes, nobody would vote for a Conservative party that intends to discontinue all social programs. In this sense the right has been moving to the left.

At the same time, I also think there is a movement among social democratic parties toward the right.
 
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I say: ABB = Anybody but Baerbock! :)

I was speaking with a natural Green voter yesterday. He said he will vote SPD this time because of ABB and also the Green's ridiculous economic agenda. What worried me about what he said was that he envisaged an SPD-led coalition with the Greens and Die Linke (The Commies). Die Linke wants to come out of NATO and make friends with Russia instead and reduce defense spending.

The problem is that the Greens cannot ally with the FDP. So if you want the CDU out then you have to look leftwards to make that happen. The CDU does need a shake-up, and indeed Lashet has proven very unpopular with the voters, but it remains the lynchpin of sensible government in Germany.
 
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