[The Weeping Angel]

When will we know the results?

[Arrowhead]

When will we know the results?

Same as is usually the case here I believe, i.e. overnight into early tomorrow morning.

[Spoonman]

Currently ARD (via taggesschau.de) are predicting the following seat counts...

SPD 205
CDU/CSU (Union): 195
Greens/B90: 114
FDP: 91
AfD: 84
Left: 40
SSW*: 1

366 seats to form a majority, a SPD/Green/Left coalition are seven seats short on the above prediction. I don't think anyone's going into bed with the AfD, and a Union & FDP combo is far too small for a governing majority. So unless there's another Grand Coalition between the SPD & the Union, any workable governing majority is gonna take at least three parties.

* A regional party in Schleswig representing Danish minority interests.

[Andy McDandy]

I thought Flashman sorted those fuckers out back in 1847. That thing in Strackenz.

[The Weeping Angel]

It's nice to see the AFD and Die Linke do badly.

[Youngian]

What sort of bones are thrown thrown at the FDP, aren’t they social and economic liberals? Foreign secretary, I guess.

[kreuzberger]

The early indications are that the FDP are going to try to drive a hard bargain with Scholz or threaten to show some leg to Laschet.

The problem is that they want to do away with schools and hospitals in favour of opening coal mines and chemical weapons factories (or summat like that) so, unless there is an outbreak of pragmatism on their part - and, to an extent, on that of the the Greens, the Ampel is doomed to failure.

Last time they were in government, they got the Foreign Ministry and Guido (Sch)Westerwelle seized the opportunity for grandstanding, using it as a chance to promote - er - Westerwelle. Only a fool would bet against Christian Lindner doing the same.

Still, it might be a price worth paying. One which keeps him away from the main, domestic policy agenda.

[Tubby Isaacs]

The FDP need keeping away from the Treasury. For Europe's sake.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Very surprised at the strong performance by the FDP among the young.. Do they support legalized cannabis or something?

[kreuzberger]

They are big on data security and digital reform, plus plenty of doing-away with vast amounts of our famously Byzantine bureaucracy. Yep, and weed.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Ha ha.

They aren't very cuddly on public spending. In Germany or Spain, I fear.

[kreuzberger]

It's happened. I have been awarded my unrestricted residency rights for all eternity and, as of Right Now, I actually have the card and all the official paperwork to prove it.

Even when it was all over bar the shouting and I got my letter with the e-residency pin numbers and suchlike, it still didn't feel as good as this. Next stop, full citizenship and the final relief that nae cunt, ever again, will arbitarily trash my rights to just get on with my unremarkable life.

Deutschland, ich bedanke mich recht herzlich!


(Edit: shameful typo.)

[Samanfur]

Excellent news, Kreuzie!

[Youngian]

Must be a relief. Wunderbar.

[kreuzberger]

Must be a relief. Wunderbar.

You can say that again.

Must be a relief. Wunderbar.