Tuesday, September 1, 2020

2021 Elections in Germany

First, lets note that the national Bundestag/Chancellor election is set for set for September/October period of 2021.  Not a precise date yet?  No.  It must occur by 24 October (by law).  The earliest it could be held?  The third week of August. 

Second, the district/city election schedule for Hessen is set for 14 March.  Normally, being a district election....it'd mean lesser numbers showing up.

Third, both of the states of Baden-Wurttemberg and Rhineland Pfalz are set for 14 March as well. Presently, the SPD has control in the Pfalz, and Greens have marginal control over the Baden-Wurttemberg state.

These two races probably matter a great deal in setting up the fall national election.

Fourth, the 6th of June is set for the Saxony-Anhalt state election.  The odds of the AfD (far-right party) having influence?  There's fairly decent odds of them getting 20-plus percent of the vote.  The Covid-19 influence in this election?  That's the big unknown.

Fifth, the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state election is currently penciled in for September/October.  This is another case where the AfD Party might have influence (maybe 20-percent or more in the vote, and the Covid-19 situation might have influence).

Sixth, Niedersachsen city/district voting occurs in the September/October period (yet to be a solid date).  Normally, it wouldn't influence the national election, but it's to be held around the same time period.

Seventh, finally....we come to Berlin City's state election,  penciled in for August/September (probably before the national election).  In the last election, AfD managed around 14-percent.  Influence of the Covid-19 chatter?  That's a possibility.  Currently, the SPD Party, the Greens and Linke Party manage the city's political scene. 

Where this all leads onto?  I would suggest three observations:

1.  It's possible that virtually all of the state and city elections will be set up to occur before the national election, and turn this into a fairly dramatic period.  It's also possible that the national election might be rigged in some way (with the SPD and CDU blessing it) on a earlier schedule, with most of the state/city elections coming after the national election. 

2.  The two elections in eastern Germany states could influence the national election. 

3.  All of these anti-Covid-19 demonstrations in Berlin....may influence city voting and improve AfD voting numbers. 

A hectic year?  Yes. 

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