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THE STATE & POLITICS
TOPIC
BROAD PARTICIPATION
The political parties are granted a major and
relation to almost 62 million eligible voters
privileged place in the political system of
that is a share of 1.7 percent. There is also a
the Federal Republic of Germany. Article 21
downward
of the Basic Law states that “Political parties
Whereas in the 1970s and 1980s elections
shall participate in the formation of the
continually saw high and extremely high
political will of the people.” This goes hand
turnouts, (91.1 per cent in 1972), in 2009 and
in hand with an obligation to uphold inner-
2013 the elections to the Bundestag only
party democracy: The chairperson, com-
saw turnouts of 70.8 and 71.5 percent re-
mittees, and candidates must all be elected
spectively.
trend
in
election
turnout.
by secret ballot of grass roots delegates at
party conferences. In order to strengthen
Young people often find being involved in
this inner-party democracy, in the case of
local citizens’ groups and non-government
important decisions parties have in recent
organisations more appealing. Social media
times polled their members directly. The
are also becoming increasingly important as
SPD members’ vote on the Coalition Agree-
platforms for a specific type of political articu-
ment in 2013 was pivotal to the forming of
lation and action. Citizens also participate dir-
a joint Federal government with CDU/CSU.
ectly in political issues through democratic
At heart the parties are still expressions of
procedures such as referendums. Over the
specific strata of society, but at the same
past few years, there have been more oppor-
time they are losing coherence in this re-
tunities for direct democracy at both federal
gard. CDU/CSU and SPD together have
state and municipal level, and citizens have
around one million party members – in
made great use of these.
The voice of the people
In Germany voting is on the basis of
slightly modified personalised proportional representation. Every person
eligible to vote has two votes. The first
is for a party’s candidate in the constituency, the second for a state list of
candidates put up by a particular party.
The second votes are the basis of the
number of seats in the Bundestag.
Downward trend: turnout in Bundestag elections (%)
78.5
1949
91.1 89.1
1972
1983
77.8 77.7 71.5
1990
2005
2013
Source: Federal Statistical Office
DIAGRAM