Universität wien Introduction to Contemporary German and Austrian Politics Tobias Spöri tobias.spoeri@univie.ac.at mm iniversitat iPwien Agenda Day 1 - The political system of Germany - The political system of Austria - The economic development by comparison - Germany and Austria in the European Union Day 2 Contemporary German and Austrian Politics - Most important developments in recent years - Parliamentary elections in 2017: Campaigns, results, coalitions iniversitat wien Agenda Essay/seminar paper ■ 3000 words (+/-10 %) ■ Topic of your choice ■ Submit to: tobias.spoeri@univie.ac.at Criteria: ■ Needs to be related to the course ■ Needs to be approved by the lecturer Deadline: April 30, 2018 mm iniversitat iPwien Today's agenda 1. The political system of Germany 2. The political system of Austria 3. The economic development by comparison 4. Germany and Austria in the European Union iMiriiversitat lip wien The political system of Germany Wake-up question: - What do you know about German politics? Historical legacies Germany 1871-1918 German Empire 1914-1918 WW1: from a local conflict to a global war (fighting RU, FR, UK, US) German Revolution of 1918-19: social tensions (population vs. aristocrats) 1919-1933 Weimar Republic: first democratic steps (large number of parties, unstable, massive societal tensions) -> Economic crisis (1929) -> Powerful president (could dissolve the Reichstag) 1933-1945 Nazi Germany: from the rise of Hitler and the NSDAP to WW2 1939-1945 WW2: Germany fighting (again) SU, FR, UK, US 1945-1990 From post-war Germany to FRG/GDR: (re)-establishing democracy (FRG) vs. authoritarian socialism in the GDR 1989- 1990 Reunification 1990- Federal Republic of Germany present Historical legacies Federal Republic of Germany - Joining Europe - Joining NATO - The social market economy - The Marshall Plan and the economic miracle (Wirtschaftswunder) -> A Germany embedded in Europe and the west German Democratic Republic - Joining the Warsaw Pact - Erection of the Berlin Wall (1961) - centralized command economy - Slow economic decline -> A second Germany embedded in the east Reunion or the East just joining? äm iniversitat »wien Key institutions Federal (parliamentary) Republic of Germany 1. Legal frame - Grundgesetz ("constitution"): 2. Legislative: Bundestag und Bundesrat (bicameral system) 3. Political parties 4. Executive: Government ("chancellor democracy") 5. Judiciary 6. Federalism: 16 Länder Jill Universität »Wien Grundgesetz "Temporary" constitution (1949) ■ Human rights, ■ Democracy, ■ Rule of law, ■ Checks and balances, ■ Parties, ■ Federal vs. Länder level -> Consensus democracy -> difficult for any single actor to assert his or her will 0$k Universität wien The political system Bundeskabinett Bundespräsident 1 ■ J Bundesversammlung gekorene Mitglieder Bundestag 1 Bundesrat2 Bundesverfassungsgericht Landeskabinett Bund Länder5 Ministerpräsident J verfa Landesverfassungsgericht Wahlberechtigte Bürger (ab 18 Jahren) Legislative ] Exekutive ~\ Judikative wählt I ernennt entsendet I ist Mitglied ernennt formal I Vetorecht 1: Alle vier Jahre Wahl von Direktmandaten und Partelen 2: Landerkammer. Sit:Verteilung relativ zur Bevölkerungsgröße 3: Regierungschef mit Richtlinienkompetenz. Wird vom Bundespräsidenten vorgeschlagen i: Staatsoberhaupt. „Neutrale Gewalt"-nur im Notstand stärkere Kompetenzen 5: Landesebenen und Namen der einzelnen Organe unterscheiden sich von Land zu Land stark mm iniversitat iPwien Federal President Federal president: a toothless tiger with mainly soft power ■ Weimar experience ■ Should unify all three pillars of democracy (executive, legislative, judiciary) ■ 5 years term, can be re-elected once by the Federal Assembly ■ Mainly representative functions -> Approves laws -> Approves the cabinet äm Universität »wien Bundestag/Bundesrat Bundestag (598 members + X) ■ More important chamber ■ Elected every four years ■ Free mandate for MPs (in theory) Bundesrat (69 members) ■ Second chamber ■ Appointed by the Länder ■ Imperative mandate (need to represent the Länder) ■ Can propose laws via the government ■ Can veto laws but Bundestag (in particular in terms of the constitution, taxes or federalism) The electoral system It is getting complicated: One person, two votes? ■ Bundestag: 5 % threshold ■ Age: +18 ■ 1. Vote - Direct candidate (constituency): first-past-the-post (FPTP) ■ 2. Vote - Party list (Länder lists): Proportional representation (PR) iMiriiversitat lip wien The electoral 1. Vote Seats CDU 30,2 185 CSU 7,0 46 SPD 24,6 59 FDP 7,0 0 GREENS 8,0 1 LINKE 8,6 5 AFD 11,5 3 299 system Universität Wien The electoral system 1. Vote Seats 2. Vote Seats in total CDU 30,2 185 26,8 200 CSU 7,0 46 6,2 46 SPD 24,6 59 20,5 153 FDP 7,0 0 10,7 80 GREENS 8,0 1 8,9 67 LINKE 8,6 5 9,2 69 AFD 11,5 3 12,6 94 299 709 äm Universität »wien The electoral system It is getting complicated: One person, two votes? ■ Bundestag: 5 % threshold ■ Age: +18 ■ 1. Vote - Direct candidate (constituency): first-past-the-post (FPTP) ■ 2. Vote - Party list (Länder lists): Proportional representation (PR) ■ Overhang seat (Uberhangmandate): ■ Party X receives more votes in the 1. vote than it receives in the 2. vote in a Land ■ Example: A B C Seats total A B C Seats total Votes 50 30 20 100 Approach 60 (55%) 30 (27%) 20 (18%) 110 Seats 50 30 20 100 until 2008 Approach since 2013 60 (50%) 36 (30%) 20 (24%) 120 Constituencies 60 0 0 60 Overhang 10 0 0 10 äm Universität »wien Political parties Abre. Name Found EP Position CDU Christian Democratic Union of Germany 1945 EPP Christian democracy Liberal conservatism CSU Christian Social Union in Bavaria 1945 EPP Regionalism Christian democracy Conservatism SPD Social Democratic Party of Germany 1945(1890) S&D Social democracy FDP Free Democratic Party 1948 ALDE Liberalism GREENS Alliance 90/The Greens 1980 GREENS-EFA Green politics LINKE The Left 2007 (PDS 1990+WASG 2005) GUE-NGL Left AFD Alternative for Germany 2013 European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) National conservatism, right-wing populism äm Universität »wien Parliamentary elections in Germany (Bundestag, 2. vote) 100 1949 1953 1957 1961 1965 1969 1972 1976 1980 1983 1987 1990 1994 1998 2002 2005 2009 2013 2017 ■ CDU/CSU "SPD FDP "GREENS "PDS/LINKE "AFD Others Universität Wien The 2017 election in Germany (Bundestag, seats) CDU/CSU, 246 äm Universität »wien Elections in Germany (Bundestag, turnout) 100 90 80 70 86 91.1 90.7 no C ÖQ1 87.8 87.7 86.8 86.7 886 89 1 £4.3 78.5 82.2 77.8 79 79.1 777 76.2 70.8 71.5 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 1949 1953 1957 1961 1965 1969 1972 1976 1980 1983 1987 1990 1994 1998 2002 2005 2009 2013 2017 Turnout äm iniversitat »wien Government Chancellor and his/her cabinet ■ Translates the decision of the parliament into law ■ Chancellor elected by the Bundestag (Richtlinienkompetenz) ■ Vote of confidence (happened twice, success rate 50 %) Period Party Coalition Konrad Adenauer 1949-1963 CDU Various Ludwig Erhard 1963-1966 CDU CDU/CSU+FDP Kurt Georg Kiesinger 1966-1969 CDU CDU/CSU+SPD Willy Brand* 1969-1974 SPD SPD+FDP Helmut Schmidt* 1974-1982 SPD SPD+FDP Helmut Kohl 1982-1998 CDU CDU/CSU+FDP Gerhard Schröder 1998-2005 SPD SPD+GREENS Angela Merkel 2005- CDU CDU/CSU+SPD CDU/CSU+FDP 0$k Universität wien Federalism Federal Level Federal States Area States (Governmental Districts) (Rural) Districts \ City States Collective / \ ^Sk. Municipality / Urban Districts \ / Municipalities \ ^Sk. Municipality / \ X Universität Wien Federalism Name lnhab./in Mio. Government Name lnhab./in Mio. Government Baden-Württemberg 10,95 GREENS, CDU Niedersachsen 7,95 SPD, CDU Bayern 12,93 CSU Nordrhein-Westfalen 17,89 CDU, Berlin 3,56 SPD, GREENS, LINKE Rheinland-Pfalz 4,07 SPD, P, GREENS Brandenburg 2,49 SPD, LINKE Saarland 0,99 CDU, SPD Bremen 0,68 SPD, GREENS Sachsen 4,08 CDU, SPD Hamburg 1,81 SPD, GREENS Sachsen-Anhalt 2,24 CDU, SPD, GREENS Hessen 6,21 CDU, GREENS Schleswig-Holstein 2,89 CDU, F P, GREENS Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 1,61 SPD, CDU Thüringen 2,16 LINKE, SPD, GREENS Constitutional court ■ Based in Karlsruhe ■ Arm of the law (Grundgesetz) ■ Three tasks - constitutional complaint by citizens (Verfassungsbeschwerde) - check of newly implemented laws (Normenkontrolle) - Legal ruling on contested competences (Organstreit) ■ Can ban political parties (happened 2x in the 1950s) -> NPD ban was not successful twice ■ Federalism in terms of all courts (national, Länder and local courts) mm iniversitat iPwien Direct democracy ■ Only minor elements of direct democracy ■ Mainly on the local level (Smoking ban in restaurants in Bavaria 2010: yes 61,0, Stuttgart 21: yes 57,1%) ■ Two types of a mandatory binding referendum on the national level: -> Changing the constitution and in changing the state territories «)Lniversitat wwien The political system of Austria Wake-up question #2: - What do you know about Austrian politics? mm iniversitat IP vvien Historical legacies Germany 1804-1918 Habsburg Empire 1914-1918 WW1: from a local conflict to a global war (fighting e.g. vs. IT and in the Balkans) "German Austria" not allowed to join Weimar Republic 1919: Ban of the aristocrats 1919-1934 First Republic: first democratic steps (social democrats vs. conservatives, massive societal tensions) -> Economic crisis (1929) -> Chancellor Dollfuft' authoritarian rule (bans parties) 1934-1945 Austro-Fascism: 1934 coup d'etat, 1938 joining Nazi Germany 1939-1945 WW2: part of Nazi Germany 1945-1955 Independence in April 1945 - occupied until 1955 1955-1995 1955: Second republic, neutral by the Austrian State Treaty 1995-present 1995: Austria joins the EU Key institutions (Semi-presidential) Republic of Germany 1. Legal frame - Bundesverfassung ("federal Constitution''): 2. Legislative: Nationalrat und Bundesrat (bicameral system) 3. Political parties 4. Executive: Government + president 5. Judiciary 6. Federalism: 9 Länder mm iniversitat iPwien Bundesverfassung Constitution (1920) is based on four principles: - Democracy - Republic (head of state is the president, elected every six years) - Rule of law (checks and balances etc.) - Liberalism (fundamental and human rights) -> Consensus democracy -> difficult for any single actor to assert his or her will 181 Universität lip Wien The political system of Austria Bundeskanzler Bundesminister D*-"— r— - I- Bund —r a undespräsident ■4- Wahl ^...... Entiendung/MitgliedschaFt — Ernennung/Angelobung Bundesversammlung Bundesrat Nationalrat Verfassungsgerichtshof Verwaltungsgerichtshof Ordentliche Gerichtsbarkeit Bundesebene Exekutive Legislative ~| Judikative Landeshauptmann Landesräte Landtag Landesebenen Wahlberechtigte Bürger (ab 16) Universität Wien Nationalrat/Bundesrat Nationalrat (183 members) ■ More important chamber ■ Elected every five years (since 2007) ■ Free mandate for MPs (in theory) Bundesrat (61 members) ■ Second chamber ■ Appointed by the Länder ■ Weak veto power (only in the case the law directly influences the Länder) ■ But free mandate (in theory) The electoral system Not so easy again: one vote, plus "Vorzugsstimme" Nationalrat: 4 % threshold ■ Age: +16 ■ Federal, Länder (9) and regional list (39): proportional representation (PR) ■ Citizens can favour one person on the regional and Länder list (each) -> No split ticket äm Universität »wien The electoral system Not so easy again: one vote, plus "Vorzugsstimme" Nationalrat: 4 % threshold ■ Age: +16 ■ Federal, Länder (9) and regional list (39): proportional representation (PR) ■ Citizens can favour one person on the regional and Länder list (each) -> No split ticket Distribution of seats ■ Start with the regional level (favoured candidates can be moved higher) ■ Länder: Distribution of seats (minus the first level) ■ Federal level: parties, which received more seats in the first two levels, keep them, rest is distributed among the other parties -> No overhang seats on the federal level äm Universität »wien Parliamentary elections in Austria (Nationalrat) 100 26.91 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 38.71 42 11 43.05 44.78 44 4256 4842 50.04 50.42 51.03 47.65 25.97 43.11 17.54 36.51 42.78 35.34 38.06 34.92 29.26 26.86 26.82 44.03 41 9R 4596 44.19 45.43 4835 44.69 43.12 42.94 41 9 43.22 41.26 41.29 32.07 26.67 28.29 26.91 34.33 25.98 23.99 1945 1949 1953 1956 1959 1962 1966 1970 1971 1975 1979 1983 1986 1990 1994 1995 1999 2002 2006 2008 2013 2017 ■ ÖVP "SPÖ "FPÖ "GREENS "KPÖ "BZÖ Team Stronach Liste Pilz ■ LIF "NEOS "Others mm iniversitat iPwien Elections in Austria (Nationalrat, turnout) 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 93.27 95.27 g4_15 94_31 92.9 92.73 92.74 90.95 91-42 91-92 91.18 91.29 88.85 *3.58 85"98 84.27 »5.5 80.24 80.42 78.81 80 74.91 0 1945 1949 1953 1956 1959 1962 1966 1970 1971 1975 1979 1983 1986 1990 1994 1995 1999 2002 2006 2008 2013 2017 Turnout Universität Wien The 2017 election in Austria (Nationalrat, seats) FPÖ, 51 Universität Wien Political parties Abre. Name Found EP Position ÖVP Austrian People's Party 1945 EPP Christian democracy Conservatism SPÖ Social Democratic Party of Austria 1945 (1918) S&D Social democracy FPÖ Freedom Party of Austria 1955 (1949) ENL (Europe of Nations and Freedom) Right-wing populism National conservatism GREENS The Greens - The Green Alternative 1980 GREENS-EFA Green politics NEOS The New Austria and Liberal Forum 2012 ALDE Liberalism PILZ List Pilz 2017 - Green politics mm iniversitat iPwien Federal President Federal president: powerful but hardly used ■ Is part of the executive ■ Can dissolve the parliament (upon request) ■ Can dissolve the government ■ 6 years term, can be re-elected once by popular vote ■ Two rounds if no absolute majority in round one ■ De facto mainly representative functions -> Approves laws -> Appoints the cabinet Ěm Universität »wien Government Chancellor and his/her cabinet ■ Translates the decision of the parliament into law ■ Chancellor appointed by the president (no Richtlinienkompetenz) ■ Vote of confidence (never happened) Period Party Coalition Leopold Fígl 1945-1953 ÖVP ÖVP+SPÖ+(KPÖ) Julius Raab 1953-1961 ÖVP ÖVP+SPÖ Alfons Gorbach 1961-1964 ÖVP ÖVP+SPÖ Josef Klaus 1964-1970 ÖVP ÖVP+(SPÖ) Bruno Kreisky 1970-1983 SPÖ SPÖ Fred Sinowatz 1983-1986 SPÖ SPÖ-FPÖ Franz Vranitzky 1986-1997 SPÖ SPÖ-FPÖ/ÖVP Viktor Klima 1997-2000 SPÖ SPÖ+ÖVP Wolfgang Schüssel 2000-2007 ÖVP ÖVP+FPÖ (BZÖ) Alfred Gusenbauer 2007-2008 SPÖ SPÖ+ÖVP Werner Faymann 2008-2013 SPÖ SPÖ+ÖVP Christian Kern 2013-2016 SPÖ SPÖ+ÖVP Sebastian Kurz 2017- ÖVP ÖVP-FPÖ iniversitat wien Federalism m& Universität Wien Federalism Name lnhab./in Mio. Government Name lnhab./in Mio. Government Burgenland 0,29 SPÖ+FPÖ Steiermark 1,24 SPÖ+ÖVP Kärnten 0,56 SPÖ+X Tirol 0,75 ÖVP+X Lower Austria 1,67 PR (ÖVP) Vorarlberg 0,39 ÖVP+GREENS Upper Austria 1,47 PR (ÖVP+FPÖ) Wien 1,87 SPÖ+GREENS Salzburg 0,55 ÖVP+GREENS mm iniversitat iPwien Constitutional court ■ Based in Vienna ■ Arm of the law (constitution) ■ Two tasks - constitutional complaint by citizens (Verfassungsbeschwerde) - check of newly implemented laws (Normenkontrolle) ■ No federal approach to courts (all courts are part of the federal level) äm Universität »wien Direct democracy Volksbegehren (petition) ■ 1/1000 of the population must support the petition ■ One week to support the petition (> 100 000 signatures) -> Nationalrat must deal with it -> but not binding -> Frequently applied (public broadcasting, smoking ban, Austria first 1992-1993) ■ Volksabstimmung (plebiscite) ■ Parliament lets the people vote on a law -> Binding -> 2x (Zwentendorf 1978, no: 50,47 %; EU 1994, yes: 66,6 %) Volksbefragung (referendum) ■ The parliament asks the population about their opinion on a law -> Not binding -> lx (Conscription 2013, yes: 59,7%) mm iniversitat iPwien Trust in parties mm iniversitat iPwien Trust in government äm Universität »wien The economic development by comparison iniversitat wien GDP {constant 2010 US$) 4E+12 3.5E+12 3E+12 2.5E+12 2E+12 1.5E+12 1E+12 5E+11 0 ■Austria •Czech Republic ■Germany t—i—r ^ i i i i—i—i—i—i—i—i—i—i—i—i—r OlN'JlfloOOfN^^OOON'JlDOO r^r^r^r^r^oooooooooocncricricncji cncncricncncncncncncncncncncncn T~\^-lT-\^-lr-i^-iT-\T-\T-\^-lT-i^-iT-\r-\T-^ i—r t—r t—i—i—r O (N T—I O (N ^- U3 00 O O O O O ooooooooo Including the Eastern enlargement Universität wien Trust in the European Union o +- 2005(a) 2007(a) 2010(a) 2014(a) 2014(b) 2015(a) 2015(b) 2016(a) 2016(b) 2017(a) 2017(b) mm iniversitat iPwien Country better outside the EU Austria Czech Republic Germany EU average 15 ■ 10 ■ 5 ■ 0 -r- 2014(a) 2014(b) 2015(a) 2015(b) 2016(a) 2016(b) 2017(a) 2017(b) mm iniversitat iPwien Agenda Day 1 - The political system of Germany - The political system of Austria - The economic development by comparison - Germany and Austria in the European Union Day 2 Contemporary German and Austrian Politics - Most important developments in recent years - Parliamentary elections in 2017: Campaigns, results, coalitions