BERLIN –
In the German elections Sunday, according to opiniepeilers six parties chance at seats in the Bundestag. Germany has a new electoral threshold of 5 percent, and the last time that there are six parties in the Bundestag were represented, was sixty years ago.
Sunday, may 61,5 million Germans vote. There are more than 4800 candidates for 598 seats. The voters vote in the 299 constituencies twice, once on the candidate of their choice, and a party of their choice. As a result of the system that allows the seats to be divided, the number of parliamentarians will eventually be possible, higher than 598.
This time pick is expected to be six parties, the new electoral threshold:
- The CDU of chancellor Angela Merkel (in Bavaria, CSU). Merkel reigns since 2005 in a coalition and stands for a fourth term of office. She is very popular, partly thanks to the economic prosperity. She appears with 36 percent of the voters to win.
- The SPD , Martin Schulz. Former president of the European Parliament Schulz seemed his party from a deep valley to attract. But according to opiniepeilers if that is absolutely not. Many voters would the SPD as a minion of Merkel after two coalitions with the CDU (2005-2009 and 2013-2018). Schulz hopes on maintaining the current coalition, but he wants more money for infrastructure and education, and higher taxes for the rich.
- The AfD would, according to polls, the largest opposition party can be, as the current coalition of Merkel continue talks. The right-wing populists of Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) in polls 11 percent. If the AfD in the Bundestag, is the calm in the Berlin ’compromise-loving politics’ is over. The AfD is led by Alice Weidel and Alexander Gauland. They are vehemently against the EU and against immigration.
- The left (die Linke is a left-wing radical party under the leadership of Sahra Wagenknecht. The party has just as Wagenknecht has its roots in the communist party of the DDR. The Left wants to lose the NATO, requires a higher minimum wage and wants no participation in foreign military missions such as in Mali. The left (die Linke would just be like the AfD have a chance to at least 10 percent.
- The FDP (Free Democratic Party), led by Christian Lindner is a conservative liberal party, that the role of the state in the economy will reduce. The FDP wants lower taxes and more market economy. Lindner provides that his party, the new electoral threshold exceeds retrieves and demanded last week already, the ministry of Finance on a possible coalition with the CDU.
- The Greens are a left-wing greens. That was previously in the shadow of the great ’brother’ SPD, but are dreaming now of a coalition with Merkel. The Greens have two leaders, Katrin Göring-Eckardt and Cem Özdemir. The party attracts highly educated voters from the cities, and desire for a more social and climate policy, additional taxes are required.