Elections in Germany and Iceland, marriage for all in Switzerland… the five things to remember from the weekend

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Did you pick up the news? We have summarized the top five information from the past two days for you.

  • Elections in Germany: Social Democrats and Conservatives in a pocket handkerchief

The first exit polls displayed at the headquarters of the German Conservative Party (CDU) in Berlin on September 26, 2021.

Angela Merkel’s succession is starting to take shape. On Sunday, some 60.4 million German voters were called to vote in the legislative elections to designate the new majority and, consequently, the one who will succeed the Chancellor after her sixteen years in power.

While the polling stations closed at 6 p.m., the first estimates at the exit of the ballot boxes confirm a very close ballot. According to German public television ZDF, the Social Democrats of the SPD come in first with 26% of the vote. Armin Laschet’s CDU-CSU follows closely with 24%, followed by Annalena Baerbock’s Greens with 14.5%. The Liberals of the FDP total 12% of the vote, the AfD (far right), 10%, and Die Linke (left), 5%. The count continues, other estimates give the SPD and CDU-CSU equal (25%). Both the Social Democrats and the Conservatives are calling for the formation of the next government.

Read also Two votes, a fluctuating number of deputies, almost compulsory coalitions: the peculiarities of the German elections

  • In France, the Republican presidential candidate will be chosen during a vote of members in congress

Eric Ciotti, Christian Jacob and Damien Abad during the back-to-school meeting of parliamentarians from the Les Républicains (LR) party in Nîmes, September 9, 2021.

The members of the Republicans (LR) have decided the question of the best way to appoint their representative in the presidential election. On Saturday, the president of the main right-wing party, Christian Jacob, announced that a large majority of the militants included had expressed themselves in favor of the congress option (58%), to the detriment of the primary.

This option opens the door to the participation of Xavier Bertrand, at the top of the polls without crushing his competitors, and who would be “Ready to submit” at a congress even if he refuses a primary, according to Christian Jacob. This congress will be set up under the leadership of an organizing committee comprising “One representative of each of the candidates”. For now have declared themselves Valérie Pécresse (ex-LR) and Michel Barnier, supporters of an open primary, as well as Eric Ciotti and Philippe Juvin. Christian Jacob ruled out that the far-right polemicist Eric Zemmour, who is not yet officially a candidate, could participate in this congress.

Article reserved for our subscribers Read also Presidential 2022: Republicans will nominate their candidate at a congress

  • Iceland elects majority of women to parliament

Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir voted in Reykjavik on Saturday September 25, 2021.

Iceland became the first country in Europe to elect a majority of women to parliament, according to election results announced on Sunday. Of the 63 seats in the Althing, 33 will be held by women, or 52.3%, according to final projections based on the final results of the ballot held on Saturday in this country of 370,000 inhabitants. A first: no country in Europe has ever crossed the symbolic 50% mark in a parliament, with Sweden so far occupying the first place with 47% of deputies, according to data compiled by the World Bank.

Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir’s left-wing environmental movement, still in the majority, however, emerges weakened compared to its two right-wing allies.

  • The Swiss vote broadly in favor of marriage for all

Couples pose during a photo op during the day of the nationwide referendum on marriage for all, in Bern, on September 26, 2021.

According to the final results released by the federal government on Sunday, the Swiss voted 64.1% in favor of marriage for all. All the cantons of the country, even the most conservative, voted in favor. The first marriages between same-sex couples should be able to take place from the 1er July 2022, said Karin Keller-Sutter, Federal Justice Advisor.

With this resounding yes, Switzerland aligns itself with the vast majority of Western European countries. The Netherlands led the way in 2001. In France, marriage for all has been legal since 2013, in Germany since 2017.

  • Midwives on strike this weekend for more recognition

A woman holds a sign on which we can read

Since the start of the year, they have already taken to the streets five times to demand recognition and staff. Scheduled over three days, from Friday to Sunday, the national strike movement at the call of several midwifery organizations for the recognition of their profession was “Very followed” Saturday, according to the National Trade Union Organization of Midwives (ONSSF).

According to the ONSSF, one of the two main trade union organizations in the profession, “More than 50% of liberal midwifery practices reported being closed this weekend”, that is “More than 3,000 practices”.

Article reserved for our subscribers Read also Midwives put pressure on the government to upgrade their profession

And also…

UK. Faced with the gasoline shortage, Boris Johnson opens visas to foreign truckers.

India. Tens of thousands of people evacuated as Cyclone Gulab approached.

Cycling. Julian Alaphilippe and Elisa Balsamo crowned world champions.

The world



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