Q-and-A

 1.  How 'off' are the German polling organizations (compared to the US)?

I'd say if you get numbers from INSA or FORSA....they are typically close to the final number (say within 2 points).   

2.  Isn't the whole German election about the coalition-building situation?

Yeah, it's been decades since one party (like the CDU-CSU or SPD) got 50-plus percent.  So whoever  is second, third and fourth.....matters.

3.  Do you need to be a paying member of a party....to have a say in German politics?

Look....the 'face' you see as the chief candidate....can ONLY be elected in a party conference...by paying-members of the party.  

4.  Is AfD like the make-America-great-again (MAGA) group?

No....you can't see or reflect up AfD in that fashion.  

What AfD has in terms of 'playing-cards'....is a hard-position on closing the door to migration. Right now, if you were evaluating the public for their top three positions or things they care about.....yeah, reform of migration is a high priority.  But so are jobs and the economy, doing something about crime, infrastructure, ending the war, and energy prices.  

5.  Are Germans peeved about Elon's comments?

Some Germans are peeved.....some will read the commentary but give no attention.  The problem is....there was a lot of German commentary on the Harris-Trump election (they wanted to let you know their feelings).  So here we are....where Americans want to let you know their feelings.

6. Isn't there a lot of truth-commission creations in Germany?

They need someone to blame for crap that happens.  It helps to have a commission around....finding dozens of issues, in order to prevent things being dumped on one guy/gal, or one party.

7.  How harsh will things be in 2026, if you screw around with the  police, fire-rescue, or ambulance crews (in terms of harming them)?

The Interior Minister is HINTING strongly....if accused/detained, she hopes that the laws being drafted will send you off to prison for 5 years.  If you view problems over the past five years....I'd be guessing more than a thousand arrests in 2026.....requiring some prison 'growth' to accommodate the 'boys'.

8.  Jungle Camp starts in a week or two....how big a deal is the 2-week show?

Back a decade ago...there were 7 to 8 million Germans watching it.  Last 3 years?  They've averaged 4 million.