German Parties Launch Multi-Million-Mark Poster Wars Ahead of General Election

Strategic Insights -

As Germany's major political parties prepare for the general election in September, a fierce poster war is underway, with the liberal Free Democrats (FDP) unveiling a DM10 million campaign to ensure their survival as a viable force in German politics. The campaign, masterminded by the Dusseldorf branch of Ogilvie Mather, comes as opinion polls show the outgoing coalition under Chancellor Helmut Kohl and opposition parties almost equal in strength.

Key Takeaways:

  • The FDP's DM10 million poster campaign is a desperate attempt to retain a presence in the Bundestag and in government, requiring a minimum of 5% of the vote.
  • The Christian Democrats (CDU) have launched a parallel campaign, denouncing the PDS's alleged co-operation with the Social Democrats and the Greens.
  • The CDU's latest poster campaign, featuring a smiling Dr. Kohl and Erich Honecker, is seen as an own-goal by many observers, over-estimating the presence of the PDS.
  • The SPD has regained its footing with a new poster campaign, focusing on the CDU's links with the SED, the predecessor to the PDS.
  • The Campaign by SPD's Gunter Verheugen targets the CDU's ties to the old east German guard, highlighting the presence of over 200 SED veterans in regional and national parliaments.

Statistics:

  • DM10 million: The amount spent by the FDP on its poster campaign.
  • 5%: The minimum percentage of votes required by the FDP to retain a presence in the Bundestag and in government.
  • DM75 million: The publicity budget wasted by the SPD during the European elections.
  • DM60 million: The reduced publicity budget of the CDU compared to DM70 million in 1990.
  • DM5.5 million: The publicity budget of the Greens in the run-up to the October 16 general election.
  • DM2.5 million: The amount spent by the Greens in 1990.

Sources:

  • "German Parties Launch Multi-Million-Mark Poster Wars Ahead of General Election" (exact title)
  • "FDP's DM10 million poster campaign"
  • "Chancellor Helmut Kohl"
  • "Rudolf Scharping"
  • "Gunther Verheugen, "The CDU's links with the SED"
  • "Erich Honecker"
  • "German general election, September"
  • "European elections"
  • "The Greens"
  • "SPD leader"
  • "Bonn"
  • "Dusseldorf"
  • "Solingen"
  • "Ogilvie Mather"