German Election

The Germans are having a federal election this weekend.Merkel looks set to be chancellor again. The only question is which other party she will have to be in coalition with.As the economic engine of Western Europe Germany's electoral decision is potentially quite important to the European and world economy.But how much coverage is this getting in the English speaking Western world? In the UK it's on the news but hardly a hot topic. I'd imagine it gets barely a mention in the US....? (correct me if I'm wrong)How important is this election and how much do EvC members know/care about it?

Honestly, the only coverage I have seen regarding that election here in the USA was on BBC World News, which I get as part of my cable package. I have seen nothing from the prime US news agency. Although it could be drowned out right now due to what just happened in Kenya.

She?! - Oni

Merkel who? The last German Chancellor I can recall is Willi Brandt.Democracy is funny that way. I don't get to vote in Germany (although my grandfather was born in a part of Germany which is now Poland - does that count?). My main concern would be telling my government what to do about whatever the German government does.

Despite not voting in them I am guessing that you still have reasonable awareness of who wins US presidential elections....?Possibly UK ones as well? Maybe even French?But, despite the fact that Germany is one of the most economically significant countries it's main governemnt-deciding election seems to barely register.

Yes. I actually heard of Barack Obama some time before he was elected, though I didn't know he was a presidential candidate until shortly before the election. I don't know who your Prime Minister is. I presume Pompidou is gone?Of course, I could look these things up if I needed to know. Today I'm going to look for bad reviews of Yojimbo instead.

Given that im drunk as a skunk il try to do my best to answer.......Germany is the 4th economic superpower of the world witcherver way you cut it either by the: List by the United Nations, List by the International Monetary Fund, List by the World Bank or List by the CIA World Factbook.That being said the news organisations of the world don't give a flying fuck about Germany because nobody cares and if nobody cares it dosent sell Edited by frako, : Wouldn't you like to know

And amazingly you managed more capital letters in the single paragraph that follows than in all your other posts at EvC combined.

Merkel wins her third term. Die Vaterland liebe Merkel.

I haven't heard anything about it, except this thread, and I really just don't care at all.

It's on the news in Czech Republic quite a lot, and would be probably be more so if not for the fact that the country's in campaign mode for its own election in October. It makes sense that Czechs would be more interested than other countries, since Germany is a massive country just next door and by far the largest trading partner - accounting for about a third of all imports and exports.The German elections should be seen as significant for most Europeans, though, since Germany is the largest country in the EU, and thus has the biggest say in the European Council.I'm always confused by these sorts of responses: You don't get to vote in Germany, but it doesn't mean you're forbidden to be interested in what happens there.Edited by caffeine, : Ballsed up tags

I'm not "forbidden" to be interested nor am I compelled to be interested. I am interested in some things and not interested in others.I can always develop a new interest if the need or desire arises.

The point - As much as there is a point here - Is that given it's role in the world economy, the impact that EU economic policies forged in Germany potentially have on us all, the level of disinterest is itself quite note-worthy.Whilst I am sure that there are even Germans in Germany who don't know or care much about their own election as a result of ignorance, apathy or both we are talking here about EvC members who are a bunch of people who regularly spend their time debating philosophical and political issues. Yet even most of us couldn't give a toss.In world terms it was an important election with potentially far reaching ramifications. In terms of taking an interest in it, few outside Germany seem to give a hoot.It's that disconnect that I think is comment worthy.

Are you sure it's as important as you say?

Well it is not as if Merkel is some unknown or radical element. I mean does she have some secret plan to invade Poland again? Other than being aware that she was elected and that she is basically a moderate and rational politician what else is there to be interested in?What new direction is she planning that will affect us all? I think that the new president of Iran has a far greater chance of impacting all of our lives.