Referendums strengthen democracy (German video)

[Die Neue Zeit]

It has been some time since Die Linke's de facto party leader spoke in a weekly address, but here is Gregor Gysi on the relationship between referenda and democracy:

jf03Qrrkn0s

[Lolshevik]

You speak German?

I don't really know anything besides "ich sprache deutsch ein bissen." Could you sum up what he's saying?

[Q]

You speak German?

I don't really know anything besides "ich sprache deutsch ein bissen." Could you sum up what he's saying?

Short summary:
- Democracy (read: parliament) is being threathened by lobbygroups, for example in the case of nuclear power and the crisis.
- However, now we see a people's uprising against this. In Stuttgart there is a multi-billion project to build a subterranean station, the people organise massprotests against this.
- So, we need referendums, to strengthen (not replace) our (parliamentary) democracy.

[Lolshevik]

1. You speak German too? I'm 20 and struggling with Spanish. Jeez... okay, back on topic.

2. I completely disagree with that whole perspective. In France, it's the Communist Party (I think) which is trying to put the pension issue to referendum. In this context that can only have the effect of stifling class militancy by channeling it into parliamentary waters. Same deal in Germany. I thought Gysi was a socialist. :(

[Q]

1. You speak German too? I'm 20 and struggling with Spanish. Jeez... okay, back on topic.
Not that well, but I live about 3km from the German border, so I ought to at least understand them a bit :p


2. I completely disagree with that whole perspective. In France, it's the Communist Party (I think) which is trying to put the pension issue to referendum. In this context that can only have the effect of stifling class militancy by channeling it into parliamentary waters. Same deal in Germany. I thought Gysi was a socialist. :(

I agree here, this whole deal is rather fitting neatly in the existing system. But Gysi isn't known to think outside the box... He's a rightwing careerist. That said, I don't disagree with referendums in principle, but it should be positioned against the existing farce of a democracy, not supporting it.

[Widerstand]

I thought Gysi was a socialist. :(

That alone made it clear that you don't speak German xD

[Lolshevik]

That alone made it clear that you don't speak German xD

Haha, wishful thinking on my part I suppose. There are revolutionary tendencies inside Die Linke and I was hoping against hope that some of the leadership could be counted among them.

[Die Neue Zeit]

I agree here, this whole deal is rather fitting neatly in the existing system. But Gysi isn't known to think outside the box... He's a rightwing careerist.

He had an extensive career in law. What else did you expect from people like him who sound like sneaky, oily car salesmen?