Today we deal with the chances of success of SPD candidate Olaf Scholz, with the decision of the constitutional court on the license fee - and with a missing whiskey bottle for Mike Pompeo.
The Olaf Scholz calculation
The SPD used to have the so-called
Helmut Schmidt voters
.
These were people from the political center who actually didn't really like the party, but then voted for it because they wanted Helmut Schmidt as chancellor.
In this election campaign, the SPD is hoping for the same effect: in the last few meters, as many voters as possible should vote for them because they want Olaf Scholz as Chancellor.
The comrade could then lead
a traffic light coalition
of the SPD, Greens and FDP
as head of
government
, so the calculation.
In its advertising campaign for the final spurt, the party therefore puts the candidate at the center.
So far, the bill has always been a little ridiculed in the political and media complex, but now some strategists in Berlin have certainly got the feeling that it might work out after all.
In terms of popularity ratings in the Civey survey for SPIEGEL, Scholz is ahead of his two competitors Armin Laschet (17 percent) and Annalena Baerbock (21 percent) with 25 percent approval.
The SPD as a party ranks behind the Union and the Greens, but that doesn't mean much at the moment.
For Scholz it is crucial that the trend goes in his direction.
Because at the end of the elections, the SPD often has another group that it can activate,
the so-called sofa voters
.
These are people who used to vote for the SPD, but now don't want to vote because "nothing will change anyway."
You need a reason to get up from the sofa - and that would be the prospect that a comrade could still become chancellor.
Of course, sofa voters are unpredictable.
They don't follow any tactical logic, and they quickly get in a bad mood, which is why they don't like to talk to pollers, ergo maybe more difficult to capture in polls than other voters.
But one thing is certain: together, sofa voters and Olaf Scholz voters can end up promoting the Hamburger to the Chancellery.
Sounds crazy?
Might be.
A bet on it could still be worthwhile.
SPD election campaign: The Scholz bet
EU well equipped for third-party vaccinations
There was a lot of grumbling about the EU, which was far too slow to
order vaccines
last year
.
At any rate, it is slower than the USA or Great Britain.
That was actually annoying, but now the dawdling may have a tangible advantage.
In order to counter the general criticism of their leisurely vaccination policy, EU officials have been busy ordering more vaccines in recent months.
According to Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen,
up
to 1.8 billion cans from Biontech-Pfizer alone
are to be delivered to the editorial network Germany by 2023.
That means: Europe is well prepared for the administration of a possible third vaccination.
The
World Health Organization (WHO) is
now calling for third-party vaccinations in the EU or the USA to be dispensed with by the end of September.
This is the only way to have enough vaccine available to help countries that are lagging behind when it comes to vaccinations, the WHO said.
Another important vaccination news comes from the USA: The New York Times reports that the US drug authority FDA is
aiming for
full approval of the Covid-19 vaccine from Biontech-Pfizer
by the beginning of September.
The FDA granted the vaccine emergency approval late last year.
Full approval is important: In surveys, many vaccine skeptics in the USA repeatedly state that they only wanted to be vaccinated after this approval.
At the same time, full approval would make it easier for federal authorities, the military or companies to make vaccinations compulsory for employees.
Booster vaccinations with Biontech and Moderna: The business with the third shot
Karlsruhe decides on license fees
What is public broadcasting worth to us?
What can it cost?
This has been a big controversy for years, now the Federal Constitutional Court could provide more clarity on these issues.
The judges want to announce their decision to increase the radio license fee.
The background to this are constitutional complaints from the public broadcasters ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio against the blockade by Saxony-Anhalt.
Actually, the license fee should have increased by 86 cents from 17.50 euros to 18.36 euros at the turn of the year.
There is a negotiated state treaty between the federal states.
But the approval of Saxony-Anhalt is missing.
We remember: Saxony-Anhalt's Prime Minister Reiner Haseloff (CDU) stopped the vote on the State Treaty in the state parliament after a violent row in the coalition of CDU, SPD and Greens.
The CDU parliamentary group in particular is against the increase because it already considers public broadcasting to be too big and expensive.
It is now interesting how the court in Karlsruhe ruled.
If the broadcasters agree, the way would be free for the increase - Saxony-Anhalt could then no longer block the matter, lost revenue could possibly even be claimed from the fee payers from January onwards.
ARD boss Buhrow on the reform backlog among the public broadcasters: "We understand, we have to explain ourselves"
Loser of the day ...
... is the former US Secretary of State and Donald Trump loyal to
Mike Pompeo
.
The Republican has to put up with uncomfortable questions from his former agency.
When he was still in office, the Japanese government gave Pompeo a $ 5,800 bottle of whiskey.
The problem: State employees in the US are only allowed to accept gifts up to $ 390.
More valuable things have to be handed in.
All research into the precious piece has so far failed.
Pompeo himself had a lawyer informed that he did not remember ever having received the bottle and that he did not know where it could be.
The old rule then applies: in case of doubt, for the accused.
Well then, cheers.
The latest news from the night
Corona pandemic: USA are planning compulsory vaccination for international travelers.
The US borders could be reopened in the foreseeable future - but expressly only for people with proof of vaccination.
According to the White House, there will hardly be any exceptions to this rule
The chief judge orders an investigation against Bolsonaro for allegations of "election fraud":
Jair Bolsonaro repeatedly
railed
against the Brazilian electoral system - without showing any evidence for his criticism.
Investigations are now underway to determine whether the head of state is guilty of defamation
Rihanna is now a billionaire - but not because of her music:
Rihanna became famous as a singer.
However, she made her cosmetics line filthy rich.
According to Forbes magazine, she is now almost two times a billionaire - only one entertainer is wealthier
The SPIEGEL + recommendations for today
Compulsory vaccination debate: "What is prescribed arouses suspicion"
British historian on inflation: "The fear of inflation had a stronger impact on the German soul than the Second World War"
Scientists on children with a particularly high IQ: "I keep coming to me highly gifted people who are afraid of school"
Underestimated Danger of Dehydration: How Dehydration Limits Thinking and Shortens Life
Adventurous journeys in the 19th century: How a Brit secretly sneaked into Mecca
I wish you a good start to the day.
Your Roland Nelles