2010 State Elections in Germany

[Tender Branson]

First ballot result

Wulff 600
Gauck 499
Jochimsen 126
Rennicke 3
Abstentions 13

No majority for Wulff, second ballot necessary

Amost. The complete results are:

Wulff 600
Gauck 499
Jochimsen 126
Rennicke 3
Abstentions 13
Invalid 1
Sick female SPD electors: 2

I wouldn't say Gauck is gone yet....the two things you mentioned could happen Tender

Wouldn´t that mean that Jochimsen has to drop out after the second and A) convince the party to vote for Gauck or B) the leaders of the Left asking its electors to do so ? Is it even possible during the 2nd and 3rd to put the people of the Left into a seperate room to make backroom deals ?

[Middle-aged Europe]

Second ballot under way.

[Tender Branson]

Live Stream:

http://www.bundestag.de/bundestag/parlamentsfernsehen/index.jsp

[minionofmidas]

Last few electors voting right now.

Then they count, and we wait.

[Franzl]

Last few electors voting right now.

Then they count, and we wait.

What do you think the chances of Gauck winning are?

I think it's possible....but I doubt the abstentions can be overcome.

[minionofmidas]

Very low.

But... you know... not *quite* low enough to not be on tenterhooks.

[Hans-im-Glück]

Sunday, July the 4th, we have in Bavaria a referendum about ban smoking in bars, restaurants, beerhalls etc.

In Bavaria exists a law to protect nonsmokers, but it have so many exceptions that many people think this isn't enough.

http://www.nichtraucherschutz-bayern.de/

This is the side of the supporters of the referendum (it's in German)

I'm member of the electoral staff in my polling station and can sit at the hottest day of the year in the polling station.

I will vote with yes for a stronger protection of the nonsmokers. The result will be unpredictable.

[Tender Branson]

We also have a new smoking law since yesterday (July 1) .

It means that every restaurant/bar etc. with more than 50m² space has to set up a smoking zone and a non-smoking zone.

If the bar has less than 50m², the owner can decide if is a "smoking bar" or a "non-smoking bar".

According to a new study by the Economic Chamber, 75% of owners in bars with less than 50m² have opted to run "smoking bars".

2/3 of the owners with more than 50m² will create non-smoking zones, while 1/3 will be complete non-smoking areas.

As for the Bavarian law, I don´t know the details, but I favor the current law here and I have nothing against smokers (many of my friends smoke, but not me), so I´d probably vote for the status quo or against the non-smokers and for the owners of the bars.

[DL]

Its about time - for some strange reason Germany has lagged way behind every other country in Europe when it comes to cracking down on smoking in public places. Even at Green party conventions in Germany, cigarette companies have hospitality booths and give away free cigarettes to the delagates!

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

I will vote with yes for a stronger protection of the nonsmokers. The result will be unpredictable.

[Franzl]

I would vote against the Smoking Ban in Bavaria.

[minionofmidas]

Bavaria had the harshest ban at first... with the weird result that it (alongside the very toothless Saarland one) passed constitutional muster when no other state's did. (The Constitutional Court rightly ruled that laws elsewhere discriminated against small pubs and bars in favor of large ones.)

Then the CSU lost its majority, probably partly due to this very issue. And the new CDU-FDP government passed one much like what other states have as amended by the Court.
 

[Tender Branson]

The final poll (conducted for the "No"-Side by TNS Infratest) had:

No: 49%
Yes: 48%
Undecided: 3%

Support strenghtening the current law (abolish smoking): 24%
Want no change to the current law: 52%
Support liberalisation of the current law: 22%

54% say strenghtening the current law is exaggerated interference of personal freedom.

Here´s an overview of the current Bavarian law, to make it easier for you to decide if you would vote "Yes" or "No" on changing it:

In public offices, schools, train stations, restaurants primarily for eating etc. smoking is not allowed.

In restaurants/bars with less than 75m² space, the owner can decide if it`s a "smoking area" or not.

In bigger ones, the owner has to set up a "Non-smoking" zone.

Owners of open-area events can allow smoking.

http://www.region-muenchen.de/index.php?site=news&news_ID=13183&metanewstitel=Infratest-Umfrage-zum-Volksbegehren-Nichtraucherschutz-in-Bayern:-Kopf-an-Kopf-Rennen

I´d certainly vote "No" in this referendum and I predict about 58% will do so today, with 63% turnout.

[Tender Branson]

It should also be noted that the "No" side (supported by the Tobacco Industry and the bar owners) had about 1 Mio. $ to spend for the campaign.

The "Yes"-side, supported by the SPD, Greens and ÖDP as well as doctors had only 150.000$

[DL]

What kind of backwards country is Germanyn that they would allow a bunch criminals in the tobacco industry to spend one red cent on a campaign to prevent restrictions on smoking??? What do they call it? The campaign in favour of lung cancer??

The idea that tobacco companies are allowed to play any role whatsoever in German politics is scandalous. Where do they get their power? I've never seen any tobacoo growing in Germany and I always thought Germans were quite health conscious. Its pretty sad when countries like France and Italy and Ireland and the UK have done the right thing and banned smoking in all bars and restaurants - while in Germany - everywhere you to drink or eat is like walking into a gas chamber full of noxious cigarette smoke.

[Tender Branson]

Polls are closed, results should be released in about 45 minutes.

[Franzl]

What kind of backwards country is Germanyn that they would allow a bunch criminals in the tobacco industry to spend one red cent on a campaign to prevent restrictions on smoking??? What do they call it? The campaign in favour of lung cancer??

The idea that tobacco companies are allowed to play any role whatsoever in German politics is scandalous. Where do they get their power? I've never seen any tobacoo growing in Germany and I always thought Germans were quite health conscious. Its pretty sad when countries like France and Italy and Ireland and the UK have done the right thing and banned smoking in all bars and restaurants - while in Germany - everywhere you to drink or eat is like walking into a gas chamber full of noxious cigarette smoke.

We believe in freedom, something you apparently don't.

[Franzl]

http://www.volksentscheid2010.bayern.de/taba6990.html

Results under the posted link.

With 5 districts reporting, I'd be surprised if the smoking ban failed....

[Tender Branson]

Yeah, seems like the ban-people are winning big ...

[Tender Branson]

Turnout is only 30%, compared to about 55-75% to what the above mentioned poll predicted.

[Franzl]

It's over. Completely over.

YES is winning 70%+ in Aschaffenburg and Ingolstadt.....and there isn't a single district yet that voted NO.

Done.

[Hans-im-Glück]

I am surprised that my polling station vote for a ban too. But only with 146 - 139 votes. When in a small town it gives more votes for a ban the pro-smokers have no chance.

[Franzl]

Hooray for the nanny state!

[Hans-im-Glück]

Now I go to the Volksfest and drink one or two Maß Beer, to celebrate the victory.

My home district voted with 51,5%- 48,5% with No, but this isn't enough for the smokers. The big cities will vote with a big majority for the ban.

[minionofmidas]

Now I go to the Volksfest and drink one or two Maß Beer, to celebrate the victory.

And smoke a last public cigarette?

Turnout is only 30%, compared to about 55-75% to what the above mentioned poll predicted.

Not surprising. Actually, that's fairly decent.