2017 German federal elections

{{politics}}{{Sources needed}}
The [[2016 U.S. presidential election|United States]] and [[2017 United Kingdom general election|United Kingdom]] has had their elections, and it is now time for the '''2017 German federal elections'''. Unlike the elections in the United Kingdom, United States or France the German elections shape up to be the same usual and quite boring elections they usually are. Hurray for that!

==Issues==

===SPD===
The hype around Martin Schulz, the ensuing high and following [https://www.gmx.net/magazine/politik/wahlen/bundestagswahl/bundestagswahl-2017-martin-schulz-32305692 down] led to numerous debates regarding the troubles of the SPD.

===Euro===
The Euro is held by [[Alternative für Deutschland|some people]] as the cause of many crises. After the [[Eurozone crisis]], [[euroscepticism]] rose and kept rising, until it died (see the "success" of {{wpl|Liberal Conservative Reformers|ALFA}}}). The European Central Bank (Europäische Zentralbank) in Frankfurt stated <ref>http://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/international/geheimtreffen-in-luxemburg-kann-ein-land-den-euro-abschaffen/4145762-3.html</ref> that the only way for [[Germany]] (or any other country for that matter) to exit the Euro would be to Exit the EU, a step even the AFD won't consider.

===Security===
How much more does Germany need? Is the Gläserner Bürger (Glass Citizen) at hand? Since the {{wpl|2016_Berlin_attack|Berlin Christmas attack}} security debates sprung up again. However even that seems to have died down.

===Austerity===
{{main|Austerity}}
Austerity has been criticized by some politicians. It might become an issue in these elections. However interest seems low and besides the Armutsbericht(Poverty Report), wich sparked a Debate when it came out it was "[https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article163648180/Kritische-Passagen-im-Armutsbericht-umformuliert.html touched up]" a bit, barely anythign regarding Austerity came up.

===Russia===
Germany and the EU have a bumpy Relationship in the past few years, which seems to not improve as [http://www.focus.de/politik/deutschland/bundestagswahl-2017-bnd-chef-warnt-vor-russischen-manipulationsversuchen_id_6268556.html this] and [http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/bundestagswahl-2017-bnd-chef-kahl-warnt-russischen-hackerangriffen-a-1123506.html this] indicates that the Election is a possible target for Cyber Attacks and that Pro Russian trolling is already underway.

==Candidates and parties==
===Angela Merkel===
{{main|Angela Merkel}}
Merkel polled badly for a while after bringing more than a million refugees into Germany. Her polling numbers rose a little recently<ref>[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-07-07/merkel-s-poll-support-rises-as-germans-confront-brexit-turmoil Merkel’s Poll Rating Reaches 10-Month High Amid Brexit Turmoil] by Tony Czuczka (July 7, 2016, 1:21 PM PDT, Updated on July 8, 2016, 2:21 AM PDT) ''Bloomberg''.</ref> and now, with a Truck ruining a Christmas Market for Berlin and the world, we shall see if she will ever fully recover. The answer so far: Kind of? Merkel's approval rating is now even higher, but after the SPD changed leadership (see below), her CDU is basically neck-and-neck in the polls.<ref>[http://www.dw.com/en/chancellor-merkels-approval-rating-rises-in-polls-as-parties-stay-close/a-37882442 Chancellor Merkel's approval rating rises in polls as parties stay close]</ref> 

Breaking NEWS:Angela Merkel's approval rating surpassed Martin Schulz again.<ref>[https://www.gmx.net/magazine/politik/wahlen/bundestagswahl/merkel-umfrage-schulz-32273488  Angela Merkels approval rating surpassed Martin Schulz again.]</ref>

===A Führer for Germany!===
{{main|Alternative für Deutschland}}
Alternative für Deutschland (AFD) is a right-wing party which is eurosceptic, [[Climate change denial|climatosceptic]], anti-immigration and pro-[[family values]]. With the bus attack in Berlin, and other terror attacks they will poll even higher. 

Frauke Petry wants to rehabilitate the term ''völkish'', which designates a very conservative movement of the 19<sup>th</sup> and 20<sup>th</sup> centuries, that focused on German roots and was mostly centered on [[racism]] or [[antisemitism]] and anti-[[monotheism]], and [[social Darwinism]].

They are also against [[renewable energy]], because of [[wind turbine syndrome]].

They are currently [https://www.gmx.net/magazine/news/nachrichten-aktuell/frauke-petry-pegida-zerrissen-afd-32283378 dismantling themselves] with internal struggles, abbadoning of ship for Key Players and a shift to the right wich isn't exactly what voters are looking for. The face of the Party Frauke Petry [https://www.gmx.net/magazine/politik/wahlen/bundestagswahl/afd-chefin-frauke-petry-verzichtet-spitzenkandidatur-bundestagswahl-32281874 declined] the candidacy.

===SPD===
The SPD is a [[Social democracy|social-democratic]] party the oldest Party in Germany, in Fact.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Democratic_Party_of_Germany</ref> They want to protect the poor with the [[welfare state]]. For some ironic reason the original Sozial Democrats of Germany that survived the Second and [[Third Reich]] is now on the ropes after more than 60 Years of [[democracy]].

After it was surprisingly announced what Martin Schulz instead of the unpopular Sigmar Gabriel is the chancellor candidate, the poll ratings soared and the SPD has now roughly so much votes as the CDU. While before it seemed to be sure that Merkel will be the chancellor again, Schulz has a realistic chance now too. The CDU is apparently pissed of this development in parts. The current Finance Minister even compared Schulz with Donald Trump, although he is a centre-left pro-European.

The "[http://www.n-tv.de/politik/SPD-sackt-weiter-ab-article19837065.html Schulz Effekt]" is now [https://www.gmx.net/magazine/politik/wahlen/bundestagswahl/kanzlerkandidaten/umfrage-zdf-politbarometer-martin-schulz-effekt-laesst-spuerbar-32261610 offically] over and the SPD lost [https://www.gmx.net/magazine/politik/wahlen/bundestagswahl/ard-deutschlandtrend-spd-sackt-deutlich-cdu-legt-32319418 more] than they had gained before.

===Alliance '90/The Greens===
[[File:Gruene-Ja-Nazis-nein-danke1.jpg|thumb|left|[[Alternative für Deutschland|Nazis]] no thanks!]] The {{wpl|Alliance '90/The Greens|Hippies}} besides being the Masterminds for pushing the ''Energiewende'' (it's success being the backbone that formed the Alliance), they are also lead by {{wpl|Simone Peter}} and {{wpl|Cem Özdemir|Cem "Police raided me over Hemp" Özdemir.}} Even before the rise of the AFD and fall of the FPD, the third most powerful Party and 2017 seems to be their [https://i0.wp.com/bundestagswahl-2017.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2016/11/Die-Gr%C3%BCnen-Bundestagswahlergebnisse-bis-2017-1.png year].

===Free Democratic Party===
[[File:Freie_Demokratische_Partei_(logo%2C_2013).png|thumb|right| Less [[Ron Paul]] and more [[Ronald Reagan|Ronnie lite]]]]
The {{wpl|Free Democratic Party (Germany)|Free Democratic Party}} (FPD) is a classical liberal party, which similar to the Greens, try in a fit of pragmatism, to ground their program in [[reality]]. The FDP recently fell out of favor of the voters with the appearance of the AFD.

Their Candidate for Chancellor: [https://www.gmx.net/magazine/politik/wahlen/bundestagswahl/kanzlerkandidaten/stehaufmann-fdp-spitzenkandidat-christian-lindner-portrait-32296128 Christian Lindner]

===The Left===
''Die Linke'' ("The Left") is the party with the most original name ever. This is a [[democratic socialist]] party. They want to increase the inheritance [[tax]], they like [[Keynesian economics]], and they want to increase public spending and the corporate tax.

On a side note: along with the Green Party (heh) they fight for legalisation of [[Marijuana]].

==See also==
*[[Political parties of Germany]]

==References==
{{reflist|2|90%}}
[[Category:Elections]]
[[Category:Germany]]
[[Category:German politics]]

Categories: Elections, Germany, German politics