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ELECTION

Germany’s Social Democrats set for historic losses in Bremen state election

The centre-right Christian Democrats could be set to overtake the Social Democrats in Bremen for the first time in more than 70 years, according to state election exit polls.

Published: 26 May 2019 18:46 CEST
Germany's Social Democrats set for historic losses in Bremen state election
There was likely a sombre mood at the SPD HQ in Bremen as mayor Carsten Sieling addressed the crowd. Photo: DPA

Initial projections show the centre-right CDU is just ahead of the centre-left SPD in Bremen, a state which the Social Democrats has governed for 73 years, reported Welt.

Exit polls for broadcasters ARD and ZDF put support for the SPD at around 24.5% and the centre-right Christian Democratic Union, Chancellor Angela Merkel's party, up to about 25.5%.

READ ALSO: Why can't Germany's Social Democrats pull themselves together?

The historic losses could see the SPD finish second in the northwestern city-state, Germany's smallest, for the first time since WWII.

The polls put support for the Greens in Bremen up to about 18 percent. That party is currently the Social Democrats' junior coalition partner in Bremen, and could decide whether or not it keeps its hold on the state government.

The exit polls put The Left (Die Linke) at 12 percent, while the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) have 7 percent. The pro-business FDP scooped 6 percent, according to the initial projections.

The top candidate of the CDU, Carsten Meyer-Heder after the exit polls. Photo: DPA

The results mean that SPD politician Carsten Sieling, 60, could remain Bremen mayor if his party form a coalition with the Greens and The Left, which would be a first in Bremen. It would also mark the first time The Left was in power in a western German state.

But if that alliance isn't agreed then there's the possibility that CDU candidate Carsten Meyer-Heder, 58, who only joined the party a year ago, could be elected Bremen's first Christian Democratic mayor with the help of the Greens and the FDP in a coalition.

Bremen is the only federal state with a four-year legislative period; all other German states now vote every five years.

As The Local reported, the Bremen elections will likely send shockwaves to the government in Berlin where a shaky coalition between the SPD and the CDU/CSU stands.

Due to the relatively complex electoral system in Bremen, it takes longer for reliable figures to become available.

A preliminary official final result will therefore not be published until Wednesday, officials said.
 

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POLITICS

Germany’s Scholz rejects calls for later retirement in Labour Day message

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has rejected calls for later retirement in a video message for Labour Day published on Wednesday.

Published: 1 May 2024 08:12 CEST
Germany's Scholz rejects calls for later retirement in Labour Day message

“For me, it is a question of decency not to deny those who have worked for a long time the retirement they deserve,” said Scholz.

Employees in Germany worked more hours in 2023 than ever before: “That’s why it annoys me when some people talk disparagingly about ‘Germany’s theme park’ – or when people call for raising the retirement age,” he said.

Scholz also warned of creating uncertainty due to new debates about the retirement age. “Younger people who are just starting out in their working lives also have the right to know how long they have to work,” he said.

Scholz did not explicitly say who the criticism was targeted at, but at its party conference last weekend, the coalition partner FDP called for the abolition of pensions at 63 for those with long-term insurance, angering its government partners SPD and the Greens.

Scholz saw the introduction of the minimum wage nine years ago – and its increase to twelve euros per hour by his government – as a “great success”. “The proportion of poorly paid jobs in our country has shrunk as a result,” he said.

READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: Is it worthwhile to set up a private pension plan in Germany?

However, he said there were still too many people “who work hard for too little money,” highlighting the additional support available through housing benefit, child allowance and the reduction of social security contributions for low earners.

“Good collective wage agreements also ensure that many employees finally have more money in their pockets again,” he added. 

And he said that the country wouldn’t “run out of work” in the coming years.

“On the contrary! We need more workers,” he said, explaining that that’s why his government is ensuring “that those who fled to us from Russia’s war in Ukraine get work more quickly.”

Work means “more than making money,” said Scholz. “Work also means: belonging, having colleagues, experiencing recognition and appreciation.”

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