What impact will the rise of the AfD, which now accounts for almost a quarter of MPs in the Bundestag, have on the composition of parliamentary committees and other parliamentary events? Danny Schindler spoke about this in an interview with Stuttgarter Nachrichten.
In the programme Politikum - Der Meinungspodcast from WDR 5, Danny Schindler explained why political leadership and the ability to compromise on a daily basis are needed, but not necessarily extensive coalition agreements.
The recall of MPs during the election period, as permitted by the Recall of MPs Act in the UK, is seen by some as a democratic correction mechanism. However, it can also be used as an instrument to weaken the opposition, as Danny Schindler's case study on Zimbabwe shows.
As the second chamber, the German Bundesrat represents the interests of the federal states and has considerable influence on legislation. But how exactly does the interaction between the federal and state levels work, what are the party interests involved - and what characterises the Bundesrat as a special second chamber? In this episode, Franziska Carstensen, research associate at IParl and visiting professor at HWR Berlin, and Albert Funk, journalist and long-time observer of the Bundesrat, discuss the historical development, institutional categorisation and political dynamics of the Bundesrat. The focus will be on the origins of the Bundesrat, its influence on the legislative process and the extent to which the Bundesrat should be seen as a power factor or as a mere mediator between the federal and state governments.
What will happen after the early general election and what can we expect in the new election period in the party competition? Danny Schindler spoke about these questions with the morning programme of SWR Kultur.
Traditionally, governments in France can rely on stable parliamentary majorities. Since 2022, however, a minority government has been steering the country's destiny. Damien Lecomte and Calixte Bloquet trace the institutional and political developments of the last 20 years to explain this phenomenon. Although this new political situation has placed parliament more at the centre of politics, it has not contributed to a stronger consensus orientation in the Assemblée nationale.
The Bundestag elections on 23 February will be observed by an OSCE/ODIHR team of experts. In this context, discussions will also be held with experts from academia and civil society. Danny Schindler and Daniel Hellmann gave their assessments of the electoral reform, the scrutiny system and the general organisation of the election and discussed possible suggestions for improvement with the OSCE/ODIHR team of experts.
After the far-right Rassemblement National emerged as the clear winner of the election for the European Parliament on 9 June 2024, President Emmanuel Macron dissolved the National Assembly. Anastasia Pyschny and Calixte Bloquet show that the outcome of the second round of voting has far-reaching consequences for the French political system.
When voters cast their votes nationwide on 23 February, they will do so on ballot papers on which they are asked to tick candidates and party lists of their choice. It may seem trivial to ask how you actually get on the ballot paper. The simple answer: you stand as a candidate. But how does this actually work and who decides who is allowed to stand and who is not? Daniel Hellmann answers these questions on the pw-portal.
What role does physical appearance play in the selection of party staff? Calixte Bloquet and Danny Schindler investigated this question with the help of a party member survey.
Do we need more newcomers in the Bundestag who are supported by political companies outside the parties? Hardly, if you look at the selection procedures and renewal rates in the parties. Danny Schindler contributed his sceptical view to the 3Sat programme Kulturzeit.
All the important information on fundamental topics from politics and society on one A4 page. This is the "Spicker" from the Federal Agency for Civic Education. Issue no. 23 on the German Bundestag by Danny Schindler is now available in an updated version. In it, among other things: Why can the Bundestag also be called a parliamentary group?
Following the break-up of the governing coalition, an early election to the German Bundestag will take place on 23 February 2025. Daniel Hellmann explains in the podcast "What's going on? On politics and society" by the Brandenburg State Centre for Political Education, Daniel Hellmann explains the challenges associated with the early election and the consequences of the electoral law reform of 2023 for the Bundestag election and the composition of the future Bundestag.
How do the institutional foundations and modes of operation of parliamentary groups differ in different political systems? This episode focusses on a comparative look at parliamentary groups in Great Britain, France, the Czech Republic, Austria, Turkey and the European Union. The legalisation and resources of parliamentary groups, the financial and organisational framework of their work and their role in internal parliamentary power relations will be discussed.
The vote of confidence by the Federal Chancellor on 16 December 2025 shows that the democracy of the Basic Law works. Danny Schindler spoke to listeners about this and the topic of "Governance and support: how much trust has been lost?" in the WDR5 daily interview.
The Bundestag will be elected next year. For the first time, the electoral law reform adopted in the last electoral term will be applied, which will prevent overhang mandates in future. Sven T. Siefken and Daniel Hellmann explain how the distribution of mandates works in an explanatory video produced in cooperation with the Federal University of Applied Sciences.
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