[LINK] "A lessons in German authenticity"
The Globe and Mail's Greg Fergus examines at length the recent success of Germany's Free Democratic Party and Guido Westerwelle in the national elections in managing of the more remarkable victories in the history of German elections with popular support rising from 10 to 15%. The cause of this success? Fergus suggests that voters simply like Westerwelle and his authentic persona, and that his audience is economically conservative but--as evidenced by his openness on his sexual orientation--socially liberal.
Although Ms. Merkel emerged as German chancellor, the real winner of the election was Mr. Westerwelle and the Free Democrats. His party showed the best growth of all, to almost 15 per cent from 10 - perhaps the greatest increase in modern German political history. He is responsible for saving Ms. Merkel's government, as the Christian Democrats lost popular support, dropping to 33 per cent from 35. The Social Democrats, to a much greater extent, were trounced by the German electorate, with their support plummeting 12 per cent from near parity with the Christian Democrats in 2005.
These results appear to point toward the resurgence of laissez-faire, conservative values in Berlin. Germany and Canada share common traits. In order to get ahead of the curve, should Canadian political parties tilt their platforms to the right? To do so would be to draw the wrong conclusions.
This mistake is clearly seen when all the results from the campaign are examined. The next best improved performance came from a smaller left-wing party, appropriately named the Left Party. Composed of former East German communists and disgruntled former Social Democrats, it grew to 12 per cent.
If conservative values were back in style, it would have been difficult for Mr. Westerwelle, an openly gay politician, to succeed. Moreover, the far-right parties sunk to record lows. Could it be that Germans care not for social issues, but only for economic conservatism? Perhaps so, but this also fails to account for why similar low-tax policies advocated by Ms. Merkel's Christian Democrats failed to attract voters.
The best explanation of Mr. Westerwelle's success is his authenticity - the perfect marriage of personality, style and policy. The Free Democrats called for Germans to embrace greater civil liberties and greater economic liberties. That this message was delivered convincingly by the openly gay and telegenic Mr. Westerwelle underscores the extraordinary consistency between the message and the messenger.
Although Ms. Merkel emerged as German chancellor, the real winner of the election was Mr. Westerwelle and the Free Democrats. His party showed the best growth of all, to almost 15 per cent from 10 - perhaps the greatest increase in modern German political history. He is responsible for saving Ms. Merkel's government, as the Christian Democrats lost popular support, dropping to 33 per cent from 35. The Social Democrats, to a much greater extent, were trounced by the German electorate, with their support plummeting 12 per cent from near parity with the Christian Democrats in 2005.
These results appear to point toward the resurgence of laissez-faire, conservative values in Berlin. Germany and Canada share common traits. In order to get ahead of the curve, should Canadian political parties tilt their platforms to the right? To do so would be to draw the wrong conclusions.
This mistake is clearly seen when all the results from the campaign are examined. The next best improved performance came from a smaller left-wing party, appropriately named the Left Party. Composed of former East German communists and disgruntled former Social Democrats, it grew to 12 per cent.
If conservative values were back in style, it would have been difficult for Mr. Westerwelle, an openly gay politician, to succeed. Moreover, the far-right parties sunk to record lows. Could it be that Germans care not for social issues, but only for economic conservatism? Perhaps so, but this also fails to account for why similar low-tax policies advocated by Ms. Merkel's Christian Democrats failed to attract voters.
The best explanation of Mr. Westerwelle's success is his authenticity - the perfect marriage of personality, style and policy. The Free Democrats called for Germans to embrace greater civil liberties and greater economic liberties. That this message was delivered convincingly by the openly gay and telegenic Mr. Westerwelle underscores the extraordinary consistency between the message and the messenger.