German Pirate Party gets 8.5% in Berlin elections - Enters State Parliment
54 replies, posted
[quote=Deutsche Welle]
Exit polls from regional elections in the city-state of Berlin indicate the Social Democrats (SPD) retaining power in government. Early results indicate the SPD brining in 29.5 percent of the vote in the country's capital, which is also one of Germany's 16 states. This represents a slight drop in the SPD's popularity from the previous election in 2006.
Chancellor Angela Merkel's party, the Christian Democrats (CDU), improved by 2.6 percent on their last showing in 2006 but still came in second to the SPD, polling 23.5 percent. It is the six of seven regional votes that the ruling party in the national government has lost or failed to gain power this year.
The chancellor's coalition partner, the Free Democrats (FDP), polled even worse and failed to bring in the required 5 percent of votes needed to be represented in the state government. The exit polls indicate the FDP polled just 2 percent.
[b]The Pirate Party, however, did clear the 5-percent hurdle and will be represented for the first time in a state parliament in Germany. The Pirate Party, which campaigns for copyright reform, free wireless Internet service for all and greater internet privacy, brought in 8.5 percent of the vote.[/b]
Wowereit re-elected
The success of the SPD means that Berlin's mayor, Klaus Wowereit, will remain in office for a third term.
Wowereit, who became the first openly gay leader of a German state in 2001, is known for his popular touch and distinctive Berlin accent.
He has ruled in alliance with the Left Party for ten years but could switch allegiance to the Greens, who made picked up just over 5 percent and polled 18 percent. The Left Party secured 11.5 percent of the vote.
The victory could boost Wowereit's credentials within the SPD and even make him a contender for the SPD's candidate for the chancellery in 2013. Former Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück is currently the frontrunner.
Author: Matt Zuvela (dpa, Reuters)
Editor: Andreas Illmer
[/quote]
[url]http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15397392,00.html[/url]
Brb Germany
Wow, 8.5% is a lot for a new party.
Probably because the only way they can get past the stupid censorship over there is to pirate English versions of the games that get censored.
I wonder how charismatic and cunning the pirate party leader is?
those are some pretty good ideals. I'd love to have one in the US but corporations have to strong of a hold on politics here for it to work
Pirate Party Uber Alles!
Finally.
That's good, but the Left-Winged fucks have more than 11%?
Who the fuck votes for them??
[QUOTE=Dr.C;32357215]those are some pretty good ideals. I'd love to have one in the US but corporations have to strong of a hold on politics here for it to work[/QUOTE]
It's not really the corporations in this case but a completely different political climate in Europe and in the US.
The US is based on two parties and essentially from childhood most people are pressured into one of them. On the other hand, you usually have at least 4, 5 parties in most European parliaments with quite often someone getting thrown out and someone new getting voted in. And this multi party system has been around essentially from the start which leads to a more fractured political spectrum.
Rather than corporations, blame your first politicians.
[QUOTE=Scar;32357297]That's good, but the Left-Winged fucks have more than 11%?
Who the fuck votes for them??[/QUOTE]
Former east germans over 65. Probably the same type of people that vote for commies here. Usually the best way to see their demographic is to look at the votes over time. These parties probably had a slight increase at around 2000 as a lot of people went into pension and have been declining ever since as their voter base dies off.
[QUOTE=wraithcat;32357317]
Former east germans over 65. Probably the same type of people that vote for commies here. Usually the best way to see their demographic is to look at the votes over time. These parties probably had a slight increase at around 2000 as a lot of people went into pension and have been declining ever since as their voter base dies off.[/QUOTE]
How can anyone, especially people who lived in the GDR vote for them?
They praised the GDR, a state that oppressed people who thought differently, had spies everywhere, and controlled it's own citizens like no tomorrow!
Holy, some people..
Edit:
This was in their party magazin..
[thumb]http://deutschlandecho.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Junge-Welt-Mauerbau.jpg[/thumb]
[QUOTE=Scar;32357420]How can anyone, especially people who lived in the GDR vote for them?
They praised the GDR, a state that oppressed people who thought differently, had spies everywhere, and controlled it's own citizens like no tomorrow!
Holy, some people..[/QUOTE]
And old Cartoon Network shows weren't really that good.
That's nostalgia for you.
8.5? For a new party?
That's pretty cool.
They don't need many, they just need to represent everything internet and share their knowledge with corporate dicks that don't know shit about anything but money.
Good development.
Will they legalize the "like" feature on Facebook again? :v:
[QUOTE=Scar;32357420]How can anyone, especially people who lived in the GDR vote for them?
They praised the GDR, a state that oppressed people who thought differently, had spies everywhere, and controlled it's own citizens like no tomorrow!
[/QUOTE]
Old people and the politically naive usually look back at these parties and think of 'good old days' where they've forgot about all the bad things and just remembered their good memories. Feels good to be a born in West Berlin.
Its good to see that the pirate party is gaining popularity in different places. They actually stand for some sensible things.
It's an important step, now they can do more than just talk. We'll see how they use their chance. I don't expect them to turn around everything, but now they can actually demonstrate how they use what power and influence they were entrusted with.
It's also important so that people know it's not just a joke despite the name. And it's not just basement dwellers that want to legalize currently-illegal torrents.
The Pirate Party has noble goals on paper, but they have quite a bit of chaos on the inside (common for new parties with low experience) and sometimes the speakers are just ill chosen. I have huge respect for the small party that grew this fast despite a relatively narrow program. And their top goal, as they once said, is to become unnecessary because other parties will incorporate their ideas. Pretty honorable words.
We'll have to see how things will work out and whether their ideals will survive the stress test, but I wish them the best of luck. I for one voted for them and won't change that unless they turn out to be all talk.
[b]P.S.[/b]
There were a lot of Pirate Party posters around here, but many of them were placarded over by competitors or torn to shreds. Not exactly fair game, but they still got a very respectable percentage here (3%, in another area nearby an astounding 13%). Competitors view them either as a bad joke that makes them look like fools because people take them both just as seriously, OR they're actually afraid of the quick rise and the sometimes really fresh ideas that could change a lot of the convenient systems. Their inexperience and freshness is also their strength as they hold their ideals in high regards. You'll find a lot of honestly motivated young people that don't afraid of anything, instead of the cynic suits that want to feed their family somehow.
Not to say that makes them immune to corruption now and in the future, but currently it makes them rather tough opponents many veterans don't know how to deal with. Which is a good thing.
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;32358233]Will they legalize the "like" feature on Facebook again? :v:[/QUOTE]Much like the US, Germany is a federal state. The Pirate Party got representation in the Abgeordnetenhaus of Berlin, and the like feature was banned in Schleswig-Holstein. They can't influence decisions made in other states.
[QUOTE=Scar;32357420]How can anyone, especially people who lived in the GDR vote for them?
They praised the GDR, a state that oppressed people who thought differently, had spies everywhere, and controlled it's own citizens like no tomorrow!
Holy, some people..
Edit:
This was in their party magazin..
[thumb]http://deutschlandecho.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Junge-Welt-Mauerbau.jpg[/thumb][/QUOTE]
People tend to remember the better parts of their life. Keep in mind that most of the voters were young when they were in power, and as a result don't just remember the political state but that their life was better.
On top of that a lot of pensioners then had more or less similar amounts of money as working people, small division between of wealth between the rich and poor and a bunch of other stuff.
Today is a good day for civil rights.
[QUOTE=Scar;32357297]That's good, but the Left-Winged fucks have more than 11%?
Who the fuck votes for them??[/QUOTE]
What party are you talking about?
I voted for them! :)
[QUOTE='[Seed Eater];32359236']What party are you talking about?[/QUOTE]
He is talking about "Die Linke" translated: The Left.
Orginal name rite?
[QUOTE='[Seed Eater];32359236']What party are you talking about?[/QUOTE]Die Linke, probably.
I think it's obvious.
More people start to critize patents, piracy is a big question to and it won't surprise me if this party also is eu critics.
Not to mention the big big patent outrage and eu issues no one really is addressing.
[QUOTE=SomeDumbShit;32357053]Probably because the only way they can get past the stupid censorship over there is to pirate English versions of the games that get censored.[/QUOTE]
No, they can just buy the Austrian version (which is German, but uncensored). Most just want free games.
I'm not saying the Pirate Party isn't awesome though.
[QUOTE=wraithcat;32357317]Former east germans over 65. Probably the same type of people that vote for commies here. Usually the best way to see their demographic is to look at the votes over time. These parties probably had a slight increase at around 2000 as a lot of people went into pension and have been declining ever since as their voter base dies off.[/QUOTE]
"Commies"? Mind climbing down from your high horse there?
while i like their ideals it's still not a good idea to vote for them, they have absolutely no competence when it comes to social problems, job creation and no induatry contacts at all. their votes are protest voters and young people who have no ideas about the problems i mentioned
[QUOTE=Megafanx13;32359743]"Commies"? Mind climbing down from your high horse there?[/QUOTE]
The word "commie" isn't necessarily pejorative, it can be colloquial too.
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