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As a German living in Australia, I’m shocked what happened to Germany. Politics turned to Left-wing/Green party vs AFD and there is no middle ground anymore. T

As a German living in Australia, I’m shocked what happened to Germany. Politics turned to Left-wing/Green party vs AFD and there is no middle ground anymore. The FDP basically disappeared and there’s a cliff in society over things like the refugee crisis and Merkel’s “everyone is welcome here” politics. If I’d ever come back to Europe, I’d settle in Switzerland. It just is the better Germany(at least to me).

sva_ 5y ago
What do you mean the FDP disappeared? They're at >12% in current estimates, which is higher than in the 2017/2013 elections. They've only been ranked higher in 2009 (14.6%, financial crisis), and in 1961 (12.8%).
rospaya 5y ago
> there is no middle ground anymore Isn't there a grand coalition in Germany for most of the last 15 years between the center-left and center-right which did very well?
- G3rn0ti 5y ago
  If it „did very well“ is, of course, a matter of your political views but Merkel’s coalition of the largest center right (CDU) und center left party (SPD) is exactly the reason why the political fringe on both ends of the spectrum has been radicalizing in the recent years. Merkel’s conservative voter base crumbles and she keeps on losing to the right. The social democratic party has been losing voters, too, even more dramatically so to both the right and green/radical left. Both major parties became somewhat co-dependent clinging to their dwindling power over this country. With all the scaremongering about a growing right wing party like the AfD, many Germans fail to realize its supporters have always been there and never grew in numbers but before Merkel had been represented by a caucus inside the most popular parties. There have been various connections inside the CDU and the “Seeheimer Kreis” in the SPD that have become marginalized during the Merkel years with her overly pragmatic and uninspired way of administering a whole country and not committing to any visible political principles. As a famous German conservative politician of the 1970s once said: „There must never be a political party establishing itself on the right side of the CDU“ (or it‘ll be the end of its dominating power). Exactly that, leaving room for the AfD, was one of Merkel‘s biggest mistakes and it’s going to haunt Germany‘s politics for many years to come.
- raxxorrax 5y ago
  Grand coalition is basically political stand still. That isn't too negative in these times though.
otikik 5y ago
> Merkel’s “everyone is welcome here” politics. > I’d settle in Switzerland Is this intentionally ironic?
- janeroe 5y ago
  > Is this intentionally ironic? There is no contradiction. If you want to come to Canada, for example, you have to qualify for one of the programs, e.g. "Express Entry". That is, have education or better yet Canadian education, at least bachelor's degree but better PhD, experience or better yet Canadian experience, profession in a shortage list, proficiency of English and French, enough money for a year, be <35 y.o., have a husband/wife who also has all of those. If I have none of those, should I be welcome? What if I'm part of ISIS and has been sent to found an HQ in Toronto? You wouldn't invite everyone to your house indiscriminately. Why would you to your country (and then also feed them and house)?
  - robben1234 5y ago
    Refugees and skilled migration are different things.
    - shell0x 5y ago
      Exactly. Germans don’t need a visa to work in Switzerland.

sva_ 5y ago

What do you mean the FDP disappeared? They're at >12% in current estimates, which is higher than in the 2017/2013 elections. They've only been ranked higher in 2009 (14.6%, financial crisis), and in 1961 (12.8%).

rospaya 5y ago

> there is no middle ground anymore Isn't there a grand coalition in Germany for most of the last 15 years between the center-left and center-right which did very well?

G3rn0ti 5y ago
If it „did very well“ is, of course, a matter of your political views but Merkel’s coalition of the largest center right (CDU) und center left party (SPD) is exactly the reason why the political fringe on both ends of the spectrum has been radicalizing in the recent years. Merkel’s conservative voter base crumbles and she keeps on losing to the right. The social democratic party has been losing voters, too, even more dramatically so to both the right and green/radical left. Both major parties became somewhat co-dependent clinging to their dwindling power over this country. With all the scaremongering about a growing right wing party like the AfD, many Germans fail to realize its supporters have always been there and never grew in numbers but before Merkel had been represented by a caucus inside the most popular parties. There have been various connections inside the CDU and the “Seeheimer Kreis” in the SPD that have become marginalized during the Merkel years with her overly pragmatic and uninspired way of administering a whole country and not committing to any visible political principles. As a famous German conservative politician of the 1970s once said: „There must never be a political party establishing itself on the right side of the CDU“ (or it‘ll be the end of its dominating power). Exactly that, leaving room for the AfD, was one of Merkel‘s biggest mistakes and it’s going to haunt Germany‘s politics for many years to come.
raxxorrax 5y ago
Grand coalition is basically political stand still. That isn't too negative in these times though.

otikik 5y ago

> Merkel’s “everyone is welcome here” politics. > I’d settle in Switzerland Is this intentionally ironic?

janeroe 5y ago
> Is this intentionally ironic? There is no contradiction. If you want to come to Canada, for example, you have to qualify for one of the programs, e.g. "Express Entry". That is, have education or better yet Canadian education, at least bachelor's degree but better PhD, experience or better yet Canadian experience, profession in a shortage list, proficiency of English and French, enough money for a year, be <35 y.o., have a husband/wife who also has all of those. If I have none of those, should I be welcome? What if I'm part of ISIS and has been sent to found an HQ in Toronto? You wouldn't invite everyone to your house indiscriminately. Why would you to your country (and then also feed them and house)?
- robben1234 5y ago
  Refugees and skilled migration are different things.
  - shell0x 5y ago
    Exactly. Germans don’t need a visa to work in Switzerland.