Newspapers / Elon University Student Newspaper / Sept. 27, 2017, edition 1 / Page 8
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CHEATSHEET German Chancellor Angela Merkel re-elected Andrea Sinn Andrea Sinn, assistant professor of history, unpacks the results of Germany’s recent elections On Sept. 24, the Federal Repub lic of Germany voted on their next chancellor. The two largest parties, were the Christian Dem ocratic Union of Germany rep resented by Angela Merkel, and the Social Democratic Party of Germany represented by Martin Schulz. Q: What is the significance of this election? A: It cannot be stressed enough that the citizens’ right to choose their leaders in free, fair and regular elec tions is the most essential one within a democracy. Every walk to the polls serves as a reminder that voting in elections is not only a civic duty, but a great privilege which should not be taken for granted. Q: What are the key differ ences between the recent German and American elec tions? PHOTO COURTESY OFTRUBUNE NEWS SERVICE German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks on March 16,2017, at the demography Summit of the German Federal Government in Berlin. directly, for the president, who is head of government and head of state at the same time. German citizens do not elect the chancellor directly but vote for the Bundestag, and the par liament votes for the chancellor. Q: What is essential for Americans to understand about the elections? Al In the USA, the electorate votes Al By using a mixed-member pro portional representation system, a system of proportional represen tation combined with elements of first-past-the-post voting, Germany ensures that the seats in the Bunde stag are distributed between the six teen German states in proportion to the states’ population eligible to vote. This electoral system was installed by the victorious Allies after the second world war, to ensure that no single party had overwhelming power in the newly established German dem ocratic state. Q: What is the significance of the result to Germany? A: One of the things that [was] ex pected, and actually materialized, is the election of representatives of the new right-wing populist par ty in Germany, the Alternative fur Deutschland. That really demon strates a shift that we’ve seen in so many European countries, and in the United States, pretty much in aU democratic states recently, that is now also a reality in Germany. Q; Will the Alternative for Germany party continue to rise in popularity? A: It’s too early to really make a clear prognosis of what will happen. It is going to be interesting to see how they function as a formal opposition party within the federal parliament. And, as far as interviews that had been conducted right after the polling with individuals who went to vote imply, it looks like many of those who voted for the Alterna tive for Germany are actually pro testors that do not agree with the current mainstream politics of the Christian Democrats, or do not feel themselves completely represented, but do not necessarily fully engage with all the agenda of the Alterna^ tive for Germany. The party needs to obey to nilts within a parliament and how fc can actuaUy voice their promotej ideas in a parliament setting. Hu will very much determine whetlie, the popularity of this party wfflii,. crease or not. Q; What is the result’s sis- nificance to Europe and 4 world? A: One thing that is going to h a continuity is Angela Merkel bt ing the Chancellor. And that, f® sure, is an entity that over the laii twelve years, many have becomt very comfortable with, or at leasl familiar. So, there is continoit that is going to also exist in th next four years, and it’s not oiilf looking at Angela Merkel, bntab the Christian Democrats beingtht largest party representing Gemii interests in the federal parliament It looks that the Christian Demo crats are going to govern togetbei with the Liberals and the Green party, but that is not yet concealed The Social Democrats and tbe Christian Democrats might have been a little stronger, or more in terested in strengthening the Eu ropean connections than some of the parties now might emphasite this, but we’ll see. MAKE HEADLINES INTERESTED IN JOINING ELON NEWS NETWORK? WE RE HIRING. OPEN TEAMS: • Reporting - Ne’ws - Lifestyle - Sports - Opinion writing • Photography • Design • Broadcast Production • Producing • Copy Editing • Social Media • Media Analytics • Advertising/Sales • Web WHY JOrN: I / BEING A PART OF THE ELON NEWS NETWORK IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT ELON. I’VE GOTTEN TO KNOW SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE ELON COMMUNITY THROUGH ENN AND LOVE GETTING TO DO SO MUCH HANDS-ON WORK. ” GRACe MORRIS SOPHOMORE II JOINING ENN WAS THE GREATEST DECISION i HAVE MADE AT ELON. NOT ONLY DID I MAKE AMAZING FRIENDS, BUT I LEARNED ABOUT MYSELF AND MY FUTURE IN JOURNALISM, ” ALEX ROAT SOPHOMORE COME TO ASSIGNMENT MEETINGS: TUESDAYS AT 5:30 P.M. MCEWEN 108 ^MAIL US: ENNqELON.EDU
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