today we are dealing with the SPD member survey, with the election in Thuringia, with Donald Trump's rescue attempts and with snow cannons.
Way with the fly
Christof STACHE / AFP
More in the SPIEGEL
Issue 44/2019
From 100 to zero
Ideless, lethargic, anxious: Is the German automotive industry as a prosperity engine still to save?Digital Edition | Printed issues | Apps | SUBSCRIPTION
What should save the German Social Democracy now? After the surprise departure of Andrea Nahles, the remaining party leadership thought that they could breathe new life into the SPD with a candidacy tour and a member poll for party chairmanship. That seems to have been a mistake. The reports from the tour were getting grayer. The events were portrayed as lame and rigid.
Today, the Willy Brandt House announces the result of the membership survey. The two leading couples go into a second round. A wonderful reportage about the candidate tour can be found in the new SPIEGEL. Markus Feldenkirchen accompanied Karl Lauterbach during his campaign and provides intimate insights into the engine room of the SPD and the mind of Lauterbach. He does not want to carry his fly anymore.
- Six weeks with SPD wannabe chief Lauterbach: Willy
Another Thuringia?
FILIP SINGER / EPA-EFE / REX
On Sunday, the Thuringians vote for a new parliament. A survey by SPIEGEL sees the party The Left clearly ahead, with about 30 percent. CDU and AfD are close together, in the range of 20 to 25 percent, SPD, Green and FDP are single-digit. As always, it can be different, but maybe not completely different. It will probably be difficult to form a government.
Who chooses the AfD, gets Björn Höcke , about which one can make no illusions. He is a far right with extreme views. He can not be grasped with the term bourgeoisie. Höcke wants a completely different Thuringia, a completely different Germany. Voices for him are votes against liberal democracy.
- Thuringia Election: How Bodo Ramelow fights for power
A miserable guest
Kevin Wolf / FR33460 AP / DPA
When you summarize the week in the US, you have to be extremely worried. He called the efforts for an impeachment "lynching." Republicans stormed in Congress a witness hearing, which was about the impeachment. He wants to get the Ministry of Justice in position. Evidently Donald Trump does not care about the salvation of his country, he wants to maximize polarization because he hopes to be able to save his skin in a charged, highly aggressive mood.
It could permanently damage important institutions and the rest of cohesion in the US. Trump is the type of ruler who tears everything down when it sets. Thus he disqualifies himself as a democrat, because they know that they are politicians as guests in the state, and have to hand over this state after their term in good condition.
- Tactics in the Ukrainian Affair: Trump's Twisted World
Loser of the day
Andreas Gebert / REUTERS
At the weekend starts in Sölden, the alpine skiing season, for me a big date, because I like to see ski races, already because of the mountains in the background. However, I have to admit that it is getting grotesque. Temperatures in Berlin are 19 degrees today, in Sölden at least 18. When winter disappears, what about winter sports? (That's true even though it's still autumn, I think.)
At the beginning of the week pictures from Kitzbühel appeared: a green-yellow mountain landscape, in between a white ribbon for the skiers. It looked like a work of art by Christo. Allegedly, snow had been stored in cellars like potatoes elsewhere. Elsewhere, the snow cannons are tirelessly in use. All this has little to do with nature. You use a lot of CO2 to cope with the consequences of high CO2 consumption. Poor Alps . For me, they are the losers of the day.
Maybe I'll stop looking at it.
The compact news overview in the morning: current and opinionated. Every morning (weekdays) at 6 o'clock. Order directly here:
The latest news from the night
- Pentagon awards Jedi billion dollar order to Microsoft : The US Department of Defense wants to build a cloud for confidential military data - in the battle for the ten-billion-dollar job was actually Amazon as a favorite
- Around one million people are protesting for social reforms in Chile : in the capital, there has been a major demonstration of reform and against President Piñera. The mayor says: "Chile has changed today"
- SPD membership decision over party chairmanship ended : The last votes have been cast - and on Saturday evening it should be clear who won. Group leader Mützenich sees a candidate in the role of favorite
The SPIEGEL + recommendations for today
- Minister Kramp-Karrenbauer and her Syria plan: The world wonders - but the CDU is pleased
- Meghan and her Diana moment: in the goldfish bowl of the monarchy
- Britain's Premier and New Election Plan: Ten Years Johnson?
- Irfan Peci and his mobile phone news: The flagship publisher rushes over "bastard gypsy"
- Germany's most successful actor: The uncomplicated Elyas M'Barek
I wish you a nice weekend.
Your Dirk Kurbjuweit