Another Political Party

Some German folks met up, and in the last week....forged a new German political party: Alternative for Germany.  I know....it's an odd name.

The basis of the group?  Well....they'd like to end the Euro, which is pretty big business, and return to the old Deutsche Mark.

Added to the small list....they'd like to get rid of aid payments to countries like Greece, and potentially Cyprus.  And they are for dumping this EU bailout fund that has been created.

The problem right now is that they aren't officially recognized nationally.  Germany has this interesting method.....you have to go to each of the sixteen German states, and get two thousand signatures in each. For a party just starting out...it's a bit difficult.

What the party says is that they will have their folks out in April, and they intend to get the signatures in each state.  I'm guessing that large segment of this effort will center on youthful voters, and the internet might be used a good bit to interest people.

The interest here?  I'd say from observations that there is a small group of Germans....maybe ten percent of society....that have a anti-Euro philosophy, and really don't want to loan any other country funding to get out of their mess.  Oddly enough....there are a number of economical experts who typically appear on TV, who have made common statements that would put them into the middle of this philosophy.   

What happens if they meet the 2k signature deal in each state?  They get on the ballot for the fall election (the national one).  At this point, CDU's Chancellor Merkel has to recalculate the impact of voting.

Two new parties are meeting this fall (maybe).  The Pirate Party will likely get no more than three percent of the national vote (mostly all teen voting), and not fall into this picture of worry.  The Alternate guys?  Well....I would speculate that they could carry five percent of the national vote.

For Merkel currently....she knows that she'll carry around thirty-eight to forty percent of the national vote.  She'll have to partner up with someone.  If the alternate party takes votes away from the FDP....they may not be a partner.  And the options start to become very cloudy.  A CDU/CSU arrangement with the Green Party?  It could happen.  Would Merkel team up with the alternate party?  I seriously doubt that.

I think the biggest worry is that some of the chat this fall will be over quitting the Euro....which Merkel really would prefer it not be brought up in any televised conversation.  That's probably the biggest pain for her.....defending the Euro, in the midst of a political election.