The internet hasn’t put the passion back into German politics

By Steffi Nowak

Yesterday the German people once again voted for a new Government, an event that usually takes place every four years.  As with all elections, the internet proved to be a vital source of information about the different political parties, their manifestos and the candidates who wanted to become “Bundeskanzler” (head of state).

   

However, what struck me (and I guess a great number of other young Germans who are not yet utterly weary about politics), was the total lack of passion and enthusiasm surrounding German politics (not to mention the absence of a charismatic candidate!).

 

In Germany things are very different than in the US for example. German politicians live up to the national stereotype of being firm and accurate without any hint of charm or self-mockery. Electioneering from all parties wasn’t only slow, it was so boring and this remained the case right up to election day, usually ‘high noon’ for the campaigning parties!

 

Last year, many of us marvelled at how President Obama successfully re-invented grassroot politics by utilising the web.  Never before had the internet played such a key role in canvassing support.  It’s been a very different story here.  German politicians simply haven’t recognised the power of the web, with activity limited to the odd candidate posting blogs gossiping about their rivals.   Indeed, the majority of web content came from independent blogs, for example F!xmbr and TV… und so, which bemoaned the lack of optimism and the uninspired election campaigns.

 

Maybe German politicians were put off by Obama’s lack of political luck with his plans to reform the US health insurance system. This may even be the reason why the SPD (Social Democratic Party) didn’t want anything to do with candidate Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s  Obama-style “Steini-Girl” campaign, which featured heavily on YouTube.

 

For the German public at least, the internet hasn’t put the passion back into politics.