German Political Parties EXPLAINED

With Germany's election just on the horizon, it's time for us to look at the political parties shaping the country's government! After 16 years of Angela Merkel at the helm, somebody else will become Germany's new chancellor! But what do they believe in? What does it mean to be a Conservative, a Green or a Socialist politician in Germany? Find out in this video!

#Politics #Germany #Europe#Socialism #Conservatives #Liberals #Labour #Greens #EuropeanUnion #Communism #Populism #Animation #ArminLaschet #OlafScholz #AnnalenaBaerbock

*Time stamps:*
00:00 Intro
00:50 SPD ("Labour")
02:00 CDU ("Conservatives")
03:16 FDP ("Liberals")
05:01 GREENS ("Greens")
06:53 LINKE I ("Socialists")
08:23 "Socialism" vs. "Social Democracy"
09:13 LINKE II ("Socialists")
10:09 AfD ("Far Right")
12:23 Outro

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CREDITS:

The hand-drawn ones were mostly made up by myself, however I did heavily base some characters on reference images:
And lastly one that I can't find anymore. I based the SED-ball with the hat and the binoculars on a countryball of N&zi Germany. If you know the original artist, please tell me! I'd like to also credit them!

Do check them out! They are a great source for quality sounds!
- Most sounds issued via "Zapsplat Standard License" (= no further attribution required)

Other songs used:

- German National Anthem -Deutsche Nationalhymne (Fingerstyle Guitar Cover by Enyedi Sándor)
A beautiful rendition of our anthem. Thank you so much Mr Sándor, for allowing me to use your music!

- Oktoberfest Schunkler no copyright bavarian music, royalty free (gemafrei)
royalty free music by Giorgio Di Campo
A great source for (almost) free music! Just what I needed!

[JJMcCullough]

Fantastic video! What a clear guide! German politics doesn't seem so complicated now. Just in time to watch the election results!

[tvattbjornensomlektemedeld]

As a German, I've already known the information about the parties. However, I still watched the video, because I absolutely adore the cartoons. 😍

[koalasandwich]

I wish America had more parties, I don't think we'd be so dysfunctional as a nation if there were more.

[gabidemagic]

One Fact about the CDU:
The CDU has an minor Sister Party in Bavaria called CSU. If you want to vote for the CDU in Bavaria you have to vote for the CSU

[px]

When the world needed him most, he returned

[hdbrot]

Note that it‘s „Sozialistische Einheitspartei Deutschlands“ = “socialist unity party of Germany“. Not to let anyone think “party“ would be some word beginning with “D“.

[RobinKoenig]

I really enjoyed the little caricatures representing different party factions. If its your art you have a talent for drawing as well as political video making!

[Ana-plhs]

I liked that he spoke freely, showed many pictures and had very little text on his presentation🤓

[bourbon]

for any Brits who may be confused:
- The SDP is like New Labour
- The CDU is like the Tories
- The FDP is like the Lib Dems
- The Greens are like the Green Party
- Die Linke is like Old Labour
- AfD is like Reform UK

[JojoDaYoyo]

Lucas, this is the best comeback. You’re a star for people like me who are interested in politics :)

[RobinKoenig]

A bit more context on Die Linke. Its worth pointing out that even before the wall fell, The SED had a "reformist" faction, inspired by the likes of Gorbachev, that was more open to things like democratic reform and freedom of movement. And after the Wall fell it was this faction that took over the remnants of the SED, changing it to PDS. Thats not to say that there are not members and leaders within the party with connections to the Stasi and other shady shit, but I think this helps explain part of why the PDS survived the end of the DDR. The other thing I want to bring up about Die Linke is it's technically a merger of two parties. The aforementioned PDS and a West Germam splinter party from the SPD called Labour and Social Justice-the Electoral Alternative. (Catchy name). This party was formed by left wingers angry about the third way reforms of the SPD leader and chancellor Gerhard Schröder. Labour and Social Justice-The Electoral Alternative, would go on to merge into the PDS, forming Die Linke. I know that you had limited time, and therefore couldn't include all this in your (very good!) Video, so I thought I'd mention these things in the comments. :)

[maxmichalik]

You noted how the SED became the PDS completely left out how the PDS rebranded for a second time and became Die Linke.
If I recall correctly the PDS actually cleaned up some of the SED baggage (or pretended to depending on who you ask) and then merged with a bunch of people from the left wing of the SPD who thought their old party had become too centrist.

[nathanandsugar]

Multiparty democracy is better: change my mind.

[smorcrux]

This really gives off a J.J. McCullough vibe, I love it!

[ayushbajaj]

12:10 "Will the AfD actually gain power? Maybe some day but not now." Well I guess that day might've come

[remiwi]

Feels very JJ McCullough mixed with your previous style... I like it

[mrmous]

Wonderful guide, as a german i absolutely agree with basically everything you said. Even though i would say the political landscape has changed quite a bit, especially with the BSW and the late rise of the AfD which has gotten much more relevant. Also, I feel like you could have named some of the minor but not too minor parties, like volt and freie wähler, which are also a bit relevant in some cases

[angryyordle]

With this description of Die Linke I feel like I have to point out that East germany typically is where the party is the strongest, with Thuringia now being governed by Die Linke in its second term, with it being the strongest party over there.
So yeah. The people of the east, especially the older generation that grew up under socialism, really like Die Linke. Many of its voters see it as the party that tries to bring all the good stuff from the GDR back, while having gotten rid off the dictatorial and oppressive aspects.

[Konrad_K.]

For anyone watching this today, the Left/Die Linke split into Die Linke and Bündnis Sarah Wagenknecht (BSW), with the BSW being far more populist, conservative culturally and russian apologetic.

[SergeantCrwhips]

mmm...well this aged..., well, heh, with the AFD at 22%? :I