Political Campaigning in Germany

Bertelsmann Foundation

7 Sept 202105:25

Summary

TLDRThis video script explores the contrasting political campaigning styles between the United States and Germany. In the US, it's a candidate-driven popularity contest, while in Germany, campaigns focus on political parties, with parties overseeing campaigns, including financing and candidate nominations. German campaigns typically start six months before elections, with a platform manifesto and a chancellor candidate. Traditional methods like street vendors and posters are still used alongside modern online strategies. Campaign finance in Germany is regulated, with both public and private funding, requiring disclosure of large donors. The goal is to connect with voters and present a vision for Germany's future.

Takeaways

🗳️ The process of political parties and politicians gaining popularity and marketing their ideas is called campaigning.
🇺🇸 In the United States, campaigning is a lengthy and expensive popularity contest among individual candidates.
🇩🇪 In Germany, the campaign focuses more on political parties than individual candidates, with parties overseeing campaign elements.
🎉 German political parties typically start their campaign about six months before election day, intensifying in the final weeks.
📋 Each party in Germany holds a big conference to determine their official platform and choose their chancellor candidate.
🏷️ Campaign signs and posters are important in Germany, often featuring the chancellor candidate and a campaign slogan.
📺 German states limit the airtime provided to political campaigns on radio and television, unlike the U.S. where ads are aggressive.
🌐 Online campaigning is becoming more prevalent in Germany, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
💬 Despite the rise of online campaigning, disinformation campaigns have traditionally had little effect on German voters.
💰 German political parties are funded by both government and private sources, with regulations on contributions and disclosures.
📊 To qualify for government funds, parties must obtain at least 0.5% of the national or European vote, or 1% in one of Germany's 16 states.
🚫 Donations from certain organizations like charities, trade unions, and interest groups are not allowed for German political parties.
🔍 The final stage of campaigning involves candidates engaging with the public to rally support and persuade undecided voters.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of political campaigns in the United States compared to Germany?
-In the United States, the campaign process is focused on individual candidates who want to win votes, whereas in Germany, the popularity contest is more about the political parties than the individuals running for office.
Who oversees most elements of a political campaign in Germany?
-In Germany, it's the political parties that oversee most elements of a campaign, including staffing, financing, collecting membership dues, and nominating individual candidates.
How does the duration of a political campaign season in Germany typically start and intensify?
-The campaign season in Germany typically starts about six months before election day, with things really heating up in the final four to six weeks.
What is the role of a big conference in German political campaigns?
-Each political party in Germany holds a big conference during which they determine their official platform and choose their chancellor candidate.
What is the significance of a chancellor candidate in German political campaigns?
-The chancellor candidate is a person who embodies the ideals of the party and will carry its flag through election day, representing the party's platform and policies.
What are some traditional methods of campaigning in Germany?
-Traditional methods of campaigning in Germany include street vendors and gatherings, campaign signs and posters, and regulated airtime on radio and television.
How have political campaigns in Germany shifted in recent years?
-More and more political campaigns in Germany have shifted online, where parties can connect directly with potential voters, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
What is the impact of online disinformation campaigns on German voters?
-Traditionally, online disinformation campaigns have had little effect on swaying voter opinion in Germany, but recent developments during the pandemic have seen a minority of citizens fall victim to such malign activity.
How are German political parties funded during election campaigns?
-German political parties are supported by both government and private funds. They receive government funds based on their election performance and can also receive private funds with certain disclosure requirements.
What are the requirements for political parties to receive government funds in Germany?
-To qualify for government funds, German political parties must obtain at least half a percent of the vote in the latest national or European election, or one percent in the latest election in one of Germany's 16 states.
What are the regulations regarding private donations to German political parties?
-There is no limit on the amounts that individuals or corporations may contribute to German political parties, but parties are required to reveal the names of all donors whose contributions exceed 10,000 euros per year. Donations from charitable organizations, trade unions, and other interest groups are not allowed.

Outlines

00:00

🗳️ Political Campaigning: US vs. Germany

This paragraph introduces the concept of political campaigning, highlighting the differences between the United States and Germany. In the US, campaigns are individual-focused, long, and costly, while in Germany, they are more about political parties and their platforms. German campaigns are overseen by parties, which handle staffing, financing, and candidate nominations, typically starting six months before the election and intensifying in the final weeks.

🎉 German Campaigning: Party Platforms and Chancellor Candidates

The paragraph delves into the German political campaign process, emphasizing the importance of party platforms and the selection of a chancellor candidate. German parties hold conferences to determine their official platforms and choose a candidate who represents their ideals. Campaigning in Germany is regulated, with limited airtime for political ads on radio and TV, and a reliance on traditional methods like street vendors, gatherings, and campaign signs.

📢 Traditional vs. Modern Campaigning in Germany

This section contrasts traditional campaigning methods in Germany, such as posters and slogans, with the growing trend of online campaigning. While traditional methods are still significant, political parties are increasingly using online platforms to connect with voters, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, online disinformation has had minimal impact on German voters, unlike in some other countries.

💶 Campaign Finance in Germany: Public and Private Funding

The paragraph discusses the financial aspect of political campaigns in Germany. Unlike the US, German parties do not require billions of euros for their campaigns. They receive government funds based on election performance, with eligibility criteria based on vote percentages in recent elections. Additionally, parties can receive private funds without limits, but must disclose donors who contribute over 10,000 euros annually. Donations from certain organizations are prohibited to maintain campaign integrity.

🏆 The Final Push: Rallying Votes and Election Day

The final paragraph describes the culmination of the campaign process as parties and candidates make their final efforts to rally support and persuade undecided voters. As election day approaches, campaigns conclude, and it becomes the voters' responsibility to decide Germany's future leadership, considering the parties' vision for the country, the EU, and the global stage.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Campaigning

Campaigning refers to the process by which political parties and politicians promote their ideas and policies to the general public in order to gain votes. In the context of the video, it highlights the differences in campaigning strategies between the United States and Germany, emphasizing the role of individual candidates in the U.S. versus the focus on political parties in Germany.

💡Popularity Contest

A popularity contest is a competition where the winner is determined by the number of votes or the level of public support. The video script uses this term to describe the nature of political campaigns, particularly in the U.S., where individual candidates compete for votes, and in Germany, where the contest is more about the political parties.

💡Manifesto

A manifesto is a public declaration of intent or policy, often political in nature. In the video, it is mentioned that each political party in Germany holds a conference to determine its official platform or manifesto, which outlines the policies they intend to champion when in government.

💡Chancellor Candidate

The chancellor candidate is the individual chosen by a political party to represent them in an election for the position of Chancellor. The video explains that in Germany, parties select their chancellor candidate around the time they determine their platform, and this candidate embodies the party's ideals throughout the election campaign.

💡Street Vendors and Gatherings

Street vendors and gatherings are traditional methods of campaigning where political parties interact directly with the public, often distributing campaign materials or engaging in discussions. The script mentions these as important low-tech methods of campaigning in Germany.

💡Campaign Signs and Posters

Campaign signs and posters are visual tools used in political campaigns to communicate a candidate's or party's message. The video script notes their significance in German campaigns, typically featuring the chancellor candidate and a campaign slogan that reflects the party platform.

💡Regulation

Regulation in the context of the video refers to the legal restrictions or guidelines that govern political campaigning, such as limiting the amount of airtime political advertisements can have on radio and television. This is contrasted with the more aggressive advertising seen in the U.S.

💡Online Campaigning

Online campaigning is the use of digital platforms to reach potential voters, which has become increasingly important, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic as mentioned in the script. It allows political parties to connect directly with voters and has become a significant part of modern political campaigns in Germany.

💡Disinformation Campaigns

Disinformation campaigns involve the deliberate spread of false or misleading information to influence public opinion. The video script mentions that while these have traditionally had little effect in Germany, recent events have seen a minority of citizens being affected by such campaigns.

💡Campaign Finance

Campaign finance refers to the funds raised and spent by political parties or candidates to run their campaigns. The video explains that unlike in the U.S., German political parties are supported by both government and private funds, with regulations on contributions and disclosure requirements.

💡Election Performance

Election performance is the outcome of an election in terms of votes received by a party or candidate. In Germany, as described in the script, political parties receive government funds based on their election performance, with certain thresholds required to qualify for such funding.

Highlights

Political campaigning is a process where parties and politicians market their ideas to the general public to win votes.

In the United States, campaigns are individual-focused and can be long and expensive.

German political campaigns focus more on political parties than individual candidates.

German parties oversee most campaign elements, including staffing, financing, and candidate nominations.

The campaign season in Germany typically starts six months before election day and intensifies in the final weeks.

Each German political party holds a conference to determine their official platform and choose their chancellor candidate.

German campaign signs and posters are crucial, often featuring the chancellor candidate and a campaign slogan.

German political campaigns are highly regulated, with limited airtime for political ads on radio and TV.

Online campaigning has become increasingly important in Germany, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the rise of online campaigning, traditional methods like street vendors and gatherings still play a role in German campaigns.

German political parties are funded by both government and private sources, with strict regulations on donations.

To qualify for government funds, German parties must obtain at least 0.5% of the vote in national or European elections, or 1% in state elections.

German parties are required to disclose the names of donors contributing more than 10,000 euros per year.

Donations from charitable organizations, trade unions, and other interest groups are not allowed in German political campaigns.

As election day approaches, German parties focus on rallying their supporters and persuading undecided voters.

The final stage of a German campaign involves the parties presenting their vision for Germany's future and its role in the EU and globally.

Ultimately, it is up to the voters to decide who will lead Germany, based on the campaigns and their messages.