"Germany speaks" campaign: Our readers 'duels are more exciting than the candidates' election campaigns

A Union Chancellor candidate who laughs in the disaster area, a Green candidate who writes off, and a Social Democrat who shines above all because of the weaknesses of his competitors?

For many voters, going to the ballot box will be particularly difficult this year.

The way in which the parties are campaigning for votes for Angela Merkel after sixteen years has so far been more lame than stirring.

At the same time, these federal elections point the way: who will govern in the future is open how long it has not, and thus also which problems will be at the top of the political agenda in the future.

How must climate change be combated?

Should the 2G rule apply nationwide?

Does gender bring more justice?

For four months now, the participants in the “Germany speaks” debate have been arguing about issues that are bothering the country.

They express confidence and hope, but also frustration and worry.

Kirsten Lindner-Schwentick from Dortmund complains about “lies in election programs”, while Henrik Petersen from Hamburg is delighted with the latest election forecasts.

Edmund Dehnel from near Ravensburg is confident “that new politicians will come to power in the federal elections”.

Join in and discuss until election day on September 26th with a randomly drawn interlocutor who has completely different views than you on central issues.

Exchange ideas about domestic flights, the admission of people who have fled Afghanistan or about compulsory corona vaccination for adults.

When the “Germany speaks” debate started in May, the Greens were in the polls.

The party came to 26 percent in the Sunday trend and was temporarily even ahead of the Union.

A resurgence of the Social Democrats was out of the question.

For a good four months, the situation is completely different: the Christian Democrats are behind the SPD, the green candidate for Chancellor Annalena Baerbock continues to slide in popularity.

But because not only the polls have changed, but also the topics of the public debate, readers who are already registered with “Germany speaks” can hold further discussions until the Bundestag election - including about new issues raised in the course of the campaign adapted to currently discussed topics.

You can start the registration process by clicking on the following question:

So far, for example, Karin Attner from Berlin and Christopher Urlaub from Chemnitz have exchanged blows about the anti-corona measures.

At a virtual meeting, because due to the pandemic, the “Germany speaks” talks will take place via video conference this year.

Attner cannot wear protective masks and sympathizes with the so-called lateral thinkers. When she said that she knew people from the former GDR who felt reminded of the conditions from then by the Corona restrictions, public holiday vehemently contradicted. “Excuse me, but I get a slight hatred.” As painful as the restrictions are sometimes - a comparison is not justified, he says. "Even with ten masks, I wouldn't have the feeling that I was wearing a muzzle."

Or Lars Denk and Tjark Kandulski. One is the head of an automotive supplier, the other a student with a big urban flair. They put the housing market and the future of the car at the center of their dialogue. For Denk, the range of affordable apartments must be increased through more new buildings, Kandulski “wants expropriation”. When it comes to gasoline prices, too, their opinions differ widely. Denk warns that mobility must also be possible for those who have less money to spend. Kandulski says he would even expose his grandma to higher gasoline prices. Bringing all citizens with you is not possible with cheaper gasoline, but with more local and long-distance public transport.

As different as the positions of the four participants are, they are all convinced that it is important to keep in touch with one another, to get involved with what you learn from your counterpart - your arguments, but also your experiences and living conditions.

In 2021, FAZ will take part for the third time in the “Germany speaks” campaign, which was originally developed by Zeit Online and in which other partner media are participating.

So far, 23,178 people have registered and 6071 calls have taken place.

What is new about the campaign this year is that after the discussions, the participants can give feedback on how they felt about the exchange and to what extent their attitude has changed as a result. Many participants feel that some of their views have been confirmed by the discussions (73.4 percent), while a slim majority states that their counterpart has convinced them in one or more points. Many also want to stay in touch with their interlocutors. “It is very nice to have a discussion with you,” says the Chemnitz-based Christopher public holiday towards the end of his almost two-hour conversation with Karin Attner from Berlin. "Because despite opposing views, you meet on the same level."