The traffic lights are nearing another potential hurdle
A Setback for the Traffic Light Coalition
Once again, the Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe has delivered unfavorable news to the traffic light coalition. This time, the court decided that parts of the upcoming federal election will have to be repeated in Berlin. The election date is February 11, and 455 of the 2257 constituencies, including postal voting districts, will be affected, representing nearly 20% of the total constituencies.
This turn of events may cause embarrassment for the traffic light coalition, as their majority in the federal parliament is unlikely to be affected; however, an embarrassing setback cannot be ruled out.
Errors in the Previous Election
Back in September 2021, Berlin experienced a series of mistakes during the election process. Ballot papers were missing, incorrectly printed, and some polling stations didn't close on time, causing predictions about the result to circulate before everyone had cast their votes. The botched election led to a repeat of the election to the Berlin House of Representatives in its entirety, resulting in a decisive victory for the CDU in February 2022.
The CDU's Expectations
In response to the numerous errors, the Bundestag decided to partially repeat the election. The CDU/CSU was not satisfied with this action and took the issue to the Federal Constitutional Court, which has now ruled in favor of the opposition party. Accordingly, voting will now have to be repeated in 31 additional constituencies, beyond the originally planned number.
The Left Party's Relief
The Left Party can breathe a sigh of relief, as the repeat election does not jeopardize its two direct mandates it won in Berlin for the Bundestag. Consequently, the party will continue to be represented in the Bundestag.
The Polls' Unfavorable Outlook
Latest polls do not bode well for the traffic light coalition. The RTL and ntv trend barometer show dismal results, with the SPD at 14%, the Greens at 13%, and the FDP at 5%. Added together, these percentages slightly surpass the CDU and CSU's 31%, but the AfD stands out with an impressive 23%.
Strategic Importance of February 11
The forthcoming election on February 11 holds great importance for the future political landscape. A good performance could provide a positive momentum for the upcoming European elections in June and the state elections in Thuringia, Brandenburg, and Saxony later in the fall. Thus, avoiding any significant embarrassment during this election is crucial for the traffic light parties.
Source
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