Monday, September 27, 2021

How the 'Mandate Law' Works

 Normally, in an election....if you get as a party less than 5-percent of the vote....you don't get seats.  However, there is this little understood law existing (since the 1990s) which is referred to as the 'Mandate Law'.

Basically, if you got 4.9-percent (like the Linke Party did)....the potential for the Mandate Law occurs.  

If a party get more than 5-percent in three states (minimum) then you bounce into the Mandate Law, and it requires that the Bundestag give you seats.

Does it help the Linke Party?  Well....they stay in national politics but with a lot less seats and less say.  More than half of the current crew will be 'retired-out' and I would imagine that they will get fewer invites to public TV shows.  

Why the Linke Party can't really drill down into more votes?  I would suggest that the Green Party has opened up various topics, and stolen a fair amount of 'power' that the Linke crew used to have. 

Recovering?  You'd have to go and remodel/reestablishment the brand name.  

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