30 more minutes to vote in Hamburg

Apparently turnout is rather low - for German considerations. Exit polls are indicating that the CDU will be a bit above 40, the SPD only shortly above 30 (less than anticipated), Greens around ten, the Left party most likely in the parliament, but weaker than the Greens, and the FDP is only scratching at the 5 percent margin. They must be suffering under the tax fraud scandal with Liechtenstein. The Hamburg SPD however got a kick in the n*ts by the national Chairman Beck, who forced them into a debate about the Left Party just before election day. Lastly, the Left Party might end up below the last polls because of some old-style Communists on their list, who have a hard time accepting that the GDR is gone - and for good!

Liechtenstein scandal unfolding

Germany is still shaken and many CEOs are shaking... More here. Meanwhile... The Left Party is beginning to implode.

Campaigning in Hamburg during a Political Earthquake

I am going to Hamburg in the morning to participate in the last major campaign rally of the Hamburg Greens before the state elections on February 24. Of course, the Greens will fight until next Saturday night (there is no campaigning on election day in Germany), but tomorrow will be the highlight (with my boss). There is a good chance for a coalition of the Greens with the Social Democrats. It all depends if the FDP and the Left Party will enter the state parliament. The evolving corporate scandal around Klaus Zumwinkel (now former CEO of Deutsche Post) and possibly hundreds of other German CEOs who are being investigated for tax evasion might kill the FDPs chances to make it over the 5% hurdle, but it might, on the other hand, help the Left Party, who will certainly try to take advantage of the immoral behavior of German business leaders. Many of them must have trouble sleeping... And we Greens will have to get out every single vote!

Welcome

Let's see if I can make this work. I am marvelling about U.S. blogs such as The Washington Note, TPM, Electopundit, etc. These kind of blogs are hard to find, and certainly not taken advantage of, in Germany. Not that I dare to compare myself to Steve, Josh and Daniel, but somehow, I wish there was some more independent and progressive reporting on issues in Germany. So, I am trying to put this blog together. I hope you like it and I will get to it as much as I want. Cheers.