This joint LIBG and LDEG event was interesting, in-depth and well attended.The guest speakers were FDP MP Thomas Hacker, former MEP and founder of Women In Parliaments Silvana Koch- Mehrin, and LDEG chair (and resident of Germany) Rob Harrison. Sir Graham Watson chaired.
Initially each speaker spoke about the elections and their Liberal party, the Free Democratic Party which lost all seats, having been a junior coalition member. There was excellent analysis about how the party can improve itself as well as regret that they cannot help to influence the Bundestag at such an important time when Germany needs to be strong in Europe.
The far-right AfD achieved approximately 20% of the vote. They see themselves as the ‘nice face’ of the Nazis. The far-left party Die Linke also did well and these two extremist parties, which are both friendly with Putin, could vote together and prevent policies being adopted. So new Chancellor Merz will try to get a vote on some of the necessary changes BEFORE the new Bundestag comes in.
An analysis of voting patterns showed that AfD voters tend to be from East Germany and male voters from poorer regions in the West so integration is still an important issue for the new government.
Regarding defence and security, the new government should be stronger and play an important role in a more united Europe, possibly with French nuclear weapons stationed in Germany. On Ukraine, when the socialists were the strongest party, they managed to stop weapons to Ukraine. The Liberals succeeded in pushing for money to be given instead.
Thomas Hacker says, we have survived one month of Trump so only another 47 to go!