Wrapping It Up

In March, Red Baron reported on the results of recent elections in Germany in three federal states. Now the right-leaning Aktion für Deutschland (AfD) is strongly represented in all these state parliaments. Still trying to define their profile, the protesters are simply against the establishment, but that is not a party platform. Therefore, nobody from the "old" parties wants to deal with the new and primarily brownish deputies. Instead, the losers are busy picking up their remaining pieces and wrapping them up.

The political landscape in Germany has become more colorful*. Since none of the three newly elected state parliaments has a clear-cut majority, coalition governments must be formed.
*I pointed out the color codes for Germany's political parties in an earlier blog. Why the AfD is presented in charts and diagrams in a light blue color, nobody has explained to me so far

In Rhineland-Palatinate, a classical Ampelkoalition (traffic light coalition: red-yellow-green) between the Social Democrats (SPD), the Free Democrats (FDP), and the Greens is being negotiated.

What is suitable for Castrop-Rauxel's municipal council
must be good for Rhineland-Palatinate's parliament (©Castrop-Rauxel)

In Saxony-Anhalt, the Christian Democrats (CDU) try to form a Kenya coalition (black-red-green) with the Social Democrats and the Greens.

Kenya's national flag (©Pumbaa80/Wikipedia)

Finally, in Baden-Württemberg, following the clear victory of Winfried Kretschmann and his Greens, a kiwi coalition with the CDU, i.e., green with some black spots, is likely.

The landscape of Baden-Württemberg concerning the directly elected deputies
has a faint resemblance to a cut-up kiwi.
Note the two disturbing blue spots that previously had been red (©SWR)

In ongoing coalition negotiations, many conflicting interests must be ironed out. Stumbling blocks include economic growth versus green sustainability, more roads versus maintaining the existing network, and differentiated education versus a unified schooling system, to name a few. The fact that it is awesome to be in government facilitates, for some negotiators, the swallowing of toads (as we say in German) or, as Kretschmann said in his pragmatic way, "It is better to establish something than stubbornly defend a position."


And another controversial issue was wrapped up ... in Freiburg. In January 2013, Red Baron reported on a dispute about a planned painting on St. Martin's Gate (Martinstor). Here is a somewhat crazy proposal that would not be too much in contrast with the McDonald's advertisement nearby.

It is true: Many Italians visit Freiburg (©BZ)

To get an independent recommendation on the painting issue, the municipal council charged an art commission at the beginning of 2013 to look into the matter. The wise guys eventually met for the first time in 2015, but suddenly they worked fast. They deliberated what kind of picture should embellish the presently white surface of the gate in only four sessions. Last week they came to their earth-shaking conclusion: Leave the surface white. Will this decision silence the discussion? I doubt.

The present and the future? (©BZ/Ingo Schneider)

P.S. 1: And here we go. Today, April 11, the Badische Zeitung published a letter to the editor. Dr. Eugen Baldas from Freiburg wrote that the decision of the art commission to leave the front face of St. Martin's Gate white comes at an untimely time. This year is the 1700th birthday of St. Martin, born in the Roman city of Sabaria (today in Hungary) in 316.

In 2005, the Council of Europe declared St. Martin a person of sharing and common values in Europe. In times of refugees living in misery coming to a divided Europe, Dr. Baldas would like to see a painting of St. Martin encouraging sharing when facing Freiburg's shopping mile, the Kaiser-Joseph-Straße.

P.S. 2: On April 12, Freiburg's city council followed the art commission's recommendation, and a large majority decided to leave the front face of St. Martin's Gate naked. Freiburg's Mayor Dieter Salomon commented on the decision, "This is a plea for Nacktheit am Bau (nakedness on the building)." When one deputy complained about the yellow sauce (algae) spoiling the white surface, Salomon replied, "Baubürgermeister Martin Haag will lend his hand to clean the surface so that at least one Martin will be on the gate." Ha, ha, ha, our mayor had been funnier before.

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