Comments on: The Coalition Inside the Party http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/germany/the-coalition-inside-the-party/ European Opinion Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:47:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Alex http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/germany/the-coalition-inside-the-party/#comment-11121 Alex Thu, 22 Sep 2005 15:51:17 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/wordpress/?p=1924#comment-11121 [Wild unfounded speculation ON] Do you think that's what (northern) Merkel might want - cast off the CSU and all the Catholic/statey baggage that goes with it, bring the CDU and FDP into lockstep as a market/liberal party, and extend out to the Greens? It's one way of reorientating the Right to cope with reunification (my pet theory is of course that the CDU-CSU's southern, Roman Catholic base is incompatible with a reunited Germany). [WES OFF] [Wild unfounded speculation ON]

Do you think that’s what (northern) Merkel might want - cast off the CSU and all the Catholic/statey baggage that goes with it, bring the CDU and FDP into lockstep as a market/liberal party, and extend out to the Greens? It’s one way of reorientating the Right to cope with reunification (my pet theory is of course that the CDU-CSU’s southern, Roman Catholic base is incompatible with a reunited Germany).

[WES OFF]

]]> By: khr http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/germany/the-coalition-inside-the-party/#comment-11120 khr Thu, 22 Sep 2005 03:49:20 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/wordpress/?p=1924#comment-11120 Bundesrat politics combinatorics could get really tricky with a 3-party federal government. After all, one of them would in almost any state government coalition. Often, a member party might pressure the state government to at least on issues abstain that are dear to their heart. Moreover, state governments are quite zealous in defeneding their rights and their financial position. Even a federal grand coalition will have to apply some tough persuasion if it wants, say, an education bill passed. And a North German CDU government will not be happy about subsidies for ski lifts in Bavaria. Bundesrat politics combinatorics could get really tricky with a 3-party federal government. After all, one of them would in almost any state government coalition. Often, a member party might pressure the state government to at least on issues abstain that are dear to their heart.

Moreover, state governments are quite zealous in defeneding their rights and their financial position. Even a federal grand coalition will have to apply some tough persuasion if it wants, say, an education bill passed. And a North German CDU government will not be happy about subsidies for ski lifts in Bavaria.

]]> By: Doug http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/germany/the-coalition-inside-the-party/#comment-11119 Doug Thu, 22 Sep 2005 02:58:54 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/wordpress/?p=1924#comment-11119 "Seine Fantasie" no doubt in the original. You could probably go both ways (not that there's anything wrong with that) in the translation. Nice tip on the composition of the Bundesrat, Alex. But y'know, who says it's the Greens who have to change all of their positions on nukes, Turks, etc etc? Could just be the CSU. After all, the Greens got a bigger share of the national vote... “Seine Fantasie” no doubt in the original. You could probably go both ways (not that there’s anything wrong with that) in the translation.

Nice tip on the composition of the Bundesrat, Alex.

But y’know, who says it’s the Greens who have to change all of their positions on nukes, Turks, etc etc? Could just be the CSU. After all, the Greens got a bigger share of the national vote…

]]> By: David Weman http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/germany/the-coalition-inside-the-party/#comment-11118 David Weman Thu, 22 Sep 2005 01:45:10 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/wordpress/?p=1924#comment-11118 “his fantasy did not reach far enough” His imagination, you mean? “his fantasy did not reach far enough”

His imagination, you mean?

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