Why Germany envies elective dictatorship
Article Abstract:
Germany's proportional representation voting system and federal government now seem to be an element in the strong sense of doom which pervades the country. This contrasts sharply with the 1980s, when the voting system and federal government were regarded as the solution to doom. Heavy costs are associated with the relationship between regional government and central government, and proportional representation brings lengthy delays. The German electoral method means that each voter's preference is significant but that the outcome for the country as a whole is an extremely dull parliament.
Publication Name: The Independent
Subject: Retail industry
ISSN: 0951-9467
Year: 1998
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Germany is unified at last - they all agree Helmut Kohl must go
Article Abstract:
It seems likely that German Chancellor Helmut Kohl's political career will soon come to an end. He became extremely popular as a result of the reunification of Germany, but the east Germans who supported him so strongly at that time are now increasingly turning against him. He discouraged east Germans from playing a part in public life, and his Christian Democratic party will focus on west Germany as it campaigns for the forthcoming general election. However, it now seems that west Germans are adopting the political psychology of east Germans, which does not bode well for Kohl.
Publication Name: The Independent
Subject: Retail industry
ISSN: 0951-9467
Year: 1998
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New Labour's German cousins use their tricks, but without their finesse
Article Abstract:
Some observers have made comparisons between the current election campaign in Germany and the campaign that took place in the UK in the run-up to the May 1997 election. However, there are also many ways in which these two campaigns differ. The German Social Democrats cannot be sure of victory, while the UK Labour party was fairly strongly convinced that it would win. Social Democrat leader Gerhard Schroder is looking to form a coalition, but this could depend solely on whether the east German Communists gain a presence in parliament.
Publication Name: The Independent
Subject: Retail industry
ISSN: 0951-9467
Year: 1998
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
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