NEWS FROM BERLIN
The recounting period begins now
After Sunday’s chaotic election, the state election commissioner in Berlin has already drawn consequences and offered her resignation. Meanwhile, recounts are scheduled for several constituencies. The reason: very close or very conspicuous results. Election administrations are also on their own initiative checking whether ballot papers need to be recounted. During some deliveries to the polling stations, copies for Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf got mixed up with the ballot papers. On 14 October, the state election committee will have to make a final assessment as to whether repeat elections are necessary. Not every irregularity has an influence on the result. Source: rbb
NEWS FROM GERMANY
AfD fan kills petrol worker for asking him to wear a mask
According to information from the RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RND), the suspected murderer of Idar-Oberstein is 49-year-old Mario N. The perpetrator shot a 20-year-old petrol station employee in Idar-Oberstein, after the latter had repeatedly pointed out to him that masks were compulsory. On a Twitter account that was actively used until 2019, N. identified himself as a fan of the AfD. He also followed several right-wing journalists and media portals, most of which were not right-wing extremist. Police found both the suspected murder weapon and several other weapons in Mario N.’s flat. According to police, he did not legally possess any of these weapons. Source: waltroper zeitung
Germany’s election and the cultural sphere
It might take some time before Germany forms a new government, and its outcome will have strong implications for German´s cultural policy. Themes such as looted art, colonialism, representation abroad, digitalization and the pandemic, are among those to be dealt with, and each party pays more (or less) attention to them. Many parties want to optimize the “Künstlersozialkasse” — the social insurance for cultural and media professionals. Also, there is a good chance of the Federal Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM) to be upgraded to the status of a federal ministry of culture. Source: dw
Left parliamentary group in the Bundestag leaves personnel questions open
So far, Amira Mohamed Ali and Dietmar Bartsch will carry on leading the Left Party (die Linke) at the Bundestag. The party now has 39 MPs. According to Bartsch, decisions will be made by the constituent session of the new Bundestag, which is expected to be on 26 October. On the agenda of the first parliamentary party meeting was a substantive discussion on the causes of the Left’s outcome in the federal election. It was important to pull together and learn the right lessons, Mohamed Ali said. Source: nd
The difficult path to a new government
The picture of the two Green Party leaders Annalena Baerbock and Robert Habeck with FDP leader Christian Lindner and the Secretary General of the Liberals, Volker Wissing, was a sensation last Wednesday. Looking for common ground, something not feasible some years ago, they will have to find a way of dealing with themes such as climate protection, and its instruments (e.g, EU emissions trading X laws and regulations). It seems that there will be many rounds, and with not much information immediately available, as in the past – when the coalition with those two parties failed. Source: dw
Green Youth: “There is no reason for Jamaica”.
The Green Youth has given a clear rejection to a coalition of CDU, Greens and FDP. “There is no reason for Jamaica,” said the spokesperson of the independent youth organisation of the Greens, Georg Kurz. The Green Youth represents about 15,000 members and is considered much more left-wing than the party itself. In recent weeks, the Green Youth had run an independent election campaign, campaigning for a coalition with the SPD and the Left. However, the Green Youth is also skeptical about a traffic light coalition with SPD and FDP. Source: nd
