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Well, I have no choice but to pay attention, given that in the former East Bloc, rapid rises followed by implosions are the rule, not the exception :-)

However, in Germany, I think this applies to the Schill party in next-to-vote Hamburg, and the one-off successes of the far-right parties in the East, less to the Left Party.

*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.

by DoDo on Mon Feb 18th, 2008 at 05:04:38 AM EST
[ Parent ]
The left party in the west is new. The only difference with these other parties is that it has a national leadership with some political experience, which should favour its chances of eventually becoming a functioning, established party.
by nanne (zwaerdenmaecker@gmail.com) on Mon Feb 18th, 2008 at 08:01:33 AM EST
[ Parent ]
I think there are two more differences:

  1. Much of the membership didn't came from anywhere, but from prior organisations, be them SPD, PDS/West, KPD, Greens, or civilian initiatives. Thus organisational experience is there, leadership and office-holder experience is what's missing.

  2. The Left Party is neither single-issue nor centred on a single charismatic leader.

That said, I too would not characterise the Left Party in the West as presently a "functioning, established party".

*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.
by DoDo on Tue Feb 19th, 2008 at 10:09:58 AM EST
[ Parent ]

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