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The situation on Thursday: Why it is nonsense to aim for a minority government

2019-12-05T04:38:21.724Z


Today we are dealing with angry Frenchmen, with short-term coalitions, with an ancient doctrine and with the terrible consequences of emojis. Les Wutbürgers If French are angry, that has a whole different impact, as if Germans angry ...



Today we are dealing with angry Frenchmen, with short-term coalitions, with an ancient doctrine and with the terrible consequences of emojis.

Les Wutbürgers

Thomas SAMSON / AFP

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When Frenchmen are angry, it has a different impact than when Germans are angry. At least that applies to politics, which is why today probably with burning tires or worse is to be expected. Trade unions, yellow vests and others have called on the French to strike a general strike that could paralyze the whole country. It is about a reform with which President Emmanuel Macron wants to rebuild the pension system. Hopefully it will all go smoothly, but for Nato, it will be nice if Macron is distracted by a domestic matter today.

  • France before the general strike: Is President Macron shaking?

Today Jamaica, tomorrow Great Coalition

Sean Gallup / Getty Images

Yesterday I discussed at this point what speaks for or against a new election. Today it will go to a minority government, which was brought, inter alia, by Friedrich Merz into the game. The analysis for the existing grand coalition remains the same. It is more likely that things will get worse, even more arguments. How about, would Merkel and the Federal President aim for a minority government?

Merkel would remain Chancellor and could take over the EU Council Presidency in the second half of the year, which should not cause her any problems. That would be the stable element.

Otherwise, the waiting situation would be extended. One would have to wait another two years for a break in the Nachmerkelära . That's a long time, and it would be a lost time. The Chancellor would have to search for her own majority for each project. That would sometimes succeed, sometimes not. Sometimes a short-term grand coalition would make a law, sometimes a short-term Jamaican alliance. From these changes and the associated unrest only the AfD and possibly the left would benefit, since they could make their mark as the only genuine opposition parties. Green and FDP, on the other hand, would be drawn into the vortex of the end of the Merkel.

Since it would be better, the Grand Coalition would hold up to the regular election date . Of the three alternatives, a new election would be the best, because only it makes the departure possible.

  • SPD leadership duo Walter-Borjans and Esken: The reality shock

Athens against Sparta

Michael Kappeler / DPA

When last democratic and authoritarian states waged a major war against each other, the authoritarian ones won. This should be remembered, as NATO has declared China a potential opponent at its summit in London.

It is therefore worth reading the book "Athens or Sparta" by Wolfgang Will. 2400 years ago, Athens led the Attic League, in which especially democracies (not all flawless) were gathered. On the other hand, the Peloponnesian League of Authoritarian City States, whose power of protection and domination was Sparta, stood. Toward the end of the 5th century BC, a thirty-year war was fought which, to the general surprise, Sparta won with his allies.

It does not have to be that way. In the Cold War, with a similar constellation but a different outcome, the policy of détente helped to preserve peace. It must now come back to the foreground. A 25th anniversary fits in with this: on 5 December 1994, the Start 1 Treaty entered into force, with which the US and the USSR wanted to reduce their nuclear arsenal.

  • China's Power Demonstrations: How Far Can the World Trust Beijing?

Loser of the day ...

Armin Weigel / DPA

... are the ministers of education who are gathering in Berlin today for their conference. They are responsible for the education in the federal states and jointly responsible for the moderate result of the German students in the new Pisa test.

After my amateur understanding the bad readings have to do mainly with the mobile phone communication. Anyone who expresses his feelings and moods about Emojis can not properly read and write, which is why I have forbidden my children to send me emojis.

It is easy to make the phrase "Dad, I need money" more compatible with three smileys. But I want to read, "Dad, I understand that it annoys you, and I know that your money is hard (?) Earned, and I am really sorry, but the financial situation at the end of the month is unfortunately so acute that I need money. " Who can do that, can not do poorly at Pisa.

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

  • Poor despite work: According to a study, this phenomenon is increasing in many industrialized countries, including Germany. Nevertheless, the Federal Republic performs well in the ranking of social justice
  • The Trump government wants to cut social benefits for 700,000 Americans: The Democrats are talking about a "cruel" step just before Christmas - soon a large part of the poorer population will no longer receive food stamps
  • Shots on Pearl Harbor Military Base : A US Navy member has shot at civilian employees - most recently, killing two people and injuring a third person

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I wish you a nice start to the day.

Your Dirk Kurbjuweit

Source: spiegel

All news articles on 2019-12-05

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