UK General Election

saintaignan

User since 2010
Posts: 3

1 Oct. 2010

Left ? Right ? center ? Europe is in bad shape, maybe it's time for new political organisations ?

Spoiler

User since 2008
Posts: 499

11 Aug. 2010

I see. As far as I understood here, the Lib Dems in UK are somewhat different in their political position from the Liberal Democrats in Germany. The Lib Dems in the UK have left-wing influences in their agenda. I read in wikipedia that in 1988, the Lib Dems party was founded out of a merger of the Liberals and the Social Democrats. That's different in Germany. Usually, the German Liberal (Democrats) and the Social Democrats have nothing to do with each other. The last time they formed a coalition in the government was 30 years ago.

Spoiler

User since 2008
Posts: 499

14 May 2010

In Germany, we had a big coalition beetween the two major parties, the 'Conservatives' (CDU) and
the Social Democrats (SPD) from 2005 until 2009. But, quite contrary to the apprehensions before, that coalition
turned out to be comparably effective and composed, and did a prudent job, at leat during the first 2 years.

Since fall 2009, we've had the same constellation as the UK is now heading for: a coaltion beetween the 'Conversatives' (CDU) and the Liberals (FDP), and not few expected this new coalition to be more punchy, but it was a dissapointment so far. The high exceptations fizzled out very quickly, and the new government has achieved quite little so far.

To come back to the primordial question: I would never consider the Lib Dems as a left wing party, no matter how 'central'. Maybe, the French journalist meant that the Lib Dems have lurched to the left in the election campaign to attract left voters. I didn't follow the election campaign in the UK that closely, hence I don't know.

In Germany, we had that scenario during the campaign. The Liberals gave themselves at least partly a "social" countenace, because they knew otherwise they would put off and lose many voters. Nowadays, no party can afford not to be at least partly left and 'social', that is they would be be ill-advised not to claim some social aims in their agenda.

You might say, slightly ironically, that all political parties in Germany have make themselves social-democratic, except the SPD.

In Germany, we had a big coalition beetween the two major parties, the 'Conservatives' (CDU) and 
 the Social Democrats (SPD) from 2005 until 2009. But, quite contrary to the apprehensions before, that coalition 
 turned out to be comparably effective and composed, and did a prudent job, at leat during the first 2 years.  
 
 
 Since fall 2009, we've had the same constellation as the UK is now heading for: a coaltion beetween the 'Conversatives' (CDU) and the Liberals (FDP), and not few expected this new coalition to be more punchy, but it was a dissapointment so far. The high exceptations fizzled out very quickly, and the new government has achieved quite little so far.  
 
 
 To come back to the primordial question: I would never consider the Lib Dems as a left wing party, no matter how 'central'. Maybe, the French journalist meant that the Lib Dems have lurched to the left in the election campaign to attract left voters. I didn't follow the election campaign in the UK that closely, hence I don't know.  
 
 
 In Germany, we had that scenario during the campaign. The Liberals gave themselves at least partly a "social" countenace, because they knew otherwise they would put off and lose many voters. Nowadays, no party can afford not to be at least partly left and 'social', that is they would be be ill-advised not to claim some social aims in their agenda.  
 
 
 You might say, slightly ironically, that all political parties in Germany have make themselves social-democratic, except the SPD.

Gymglish Support

User since 2010
Posts: 115

10 Aug. 2010

I am from the UK and I think that most people would describe the Lib Dems as left of centre / a central left-wing party.

eBrain

User since 2009
Posts: 613

11 Aug. 2010

OK then, is there a contradiction between what can be the liberal moto : "Let do and let pass, the world goes on by itself" and left-wing politics based on recommended government's interventions in economy ?

eBrain

User since 2009
Posts: 613

12 May 2010

Ok, David Cameron is prime minister and there is a coalition between the Conservative Party and the Lib Dem.

Said by a french journalist : â€œLib Dem is a central left wing partyâ€. What do you think of it ?

Is this french view matching UKâ€™s political life ? Would a coalition between Labor and Lib Dem have been more â€œnaturalâ€ ?

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