Mid-September saw the launch of the research project on the candidate line-up
Eleven members of our project team took part in four constellation meetings in Brandenburg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saxony. Four questionnaires, two methods for scientific observation and a guideline for short interviews were tested. Our summary is positive. The survey instruments passed the practical test, but there is room for optimisation in some areas. There was no shortage of surprises and fun. But above all, many party members, delegates and candidates took part in the surveys with interest.
Solidarity candidate competition
It all started on 16 September with the SPD in constituency 61 "Potsdam - Potsdam-Mittelmark II - Teltow-Fläming". The meeting immediately presented an exciting constellation: in the 2013 election, the constituency was narrowly lost to the CDU. The MP responsible, Andrea Wicklein, had entered via the state list. Around a year ago, she had announced that she would not be standing again. Now four party members applied for the constituency nomination. After various rounds of introductions in the local organisations, the four candidates faced the 134 delegates in Potsdam. Their speeches and the questions from the delegates were fair and objective. Manja Schüle was already the winner in the first round of voting. She received over 50 per cent of the votes and can now hope to be elected directly to the Bundestag.
Nomination of candidates without a candidate, first state list adopted in parallel
We "accompanied" a constituency and a state list meeting of the DIE LINKE party. However, there was no one at the meeting in Ochtrup who wanted to throw their hat into the ring for constituency 124 "Steinfurt I - Borken I". The meeting therefore had to be cancelled. It remains to be seen whether the nomination of candidates will have to be repeated. In the Rhineland-Palatinate state association, the first state list for the 2017 Bundestag election was approved. This early date is remarkable in that the constituency candidates are normally nominated first and only then is it the turn of the list. Hardly anyone in academia will dispute the fact that constituency candidates are among those who have the best chance of achieving a top position on the list. However, this finding may have to be relativised in the light of our research.
Rain outside, sunshine inside
On 17 September, the SPD general meeting took place in the constituency 158 "Saxon Switzerland - Eastern Ore Mountains". In contrast to the heavy rain, the event was very harmonious. Master chimney sweep Klaus Wolframm was the only candidate. He introduced himself briefly and concisely in five minutes, answered a few questions and shortly afterwards routinely shook the hand of district chairman Ralf Wätzig, who congratulated him on his election success. Wolframm received 92 per cent of the votes and was satisfied with this, just like us, who achieved a response rate of 92 per cent in the survey of party members.
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