Gillamoos: A Bavarian political tradition

Thu 6th Sep, 2012

Since 1313 the "Gillamoos" Volksfest (folk festival) has been celebrated the first weekend in September in the town in Abensberg in Lower Bavaria. For more than 50 years, the Monday after this weekend is honoured as an annual tradition. On this morning, all political parties invite politicians to speak in one of the beer tents at the same time. One year before elections this year even chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) showed up for the CSU. Besides praising CSU politics, Merkel emphasised the positive role of EU for Germany.

The SPD invited their candidate for the next year´s election in Bavaria, Munich´s mayor Christian Ude. For the FDP, the chair of the party in Schleswig-Holstein, Wolfgang Kubicki, who did unexpectedly well in the local elections a few months ago, held an address. Additionally, the Green party chair of the parliamentary group in Berlin, Jürgen Trittin, came to Bavaria to speak at the same event. As a more regional based party, Freie Wähler again invited local party chair Hubert Aiwanger.

As always "Gillamoos" was a place more for direct talk than polite diplomacy, which is a real Bavarian tradition.


SPÖ Criticizes Green Party's Rejection of VAT Reduction on Essential Food Items

The Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) has raised concerns over the Green Party's opposition to a proposed reduction in value-added tax (VAT) on essential food products. The discussion follows...

FPÖ Criticizes NEOS Secretary Sepp Schellhorn's Bureaucracy Reform Efforts

The Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) has voiced strong criticism regarding the recent efforts of NEOS State Secretary Sepp Schellhorn, questioning the effectiveness of his initiatives to reduce...

UK Prime Minister Announces Sweeping Reforms After Labour's Local Election Setback

Following a significant loss in recent local elections, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom addressed the public and members of the Labour Party with a commitment to implement major policy...

Austria's Dual Budget Approach Faces Criticism Amid Calls for Flexibility

The latest fiscal strategy by Austria's three-party coalition has drawn attention for its continued use of a dual budget model, despite ongoing debates about its effectiveness in addressing rapidly...

Swedish Parliament Faces Scrutiny Over Invitation to Exiled Iranian Prince

The recent decision to invite Reza Pahlavi, the exiled crown prince of Iran, to address the Swedish parliament has sparked significant debate regarding the representation and legitimacy of Iran's...

Sweden's Coalition Parties Plan for Majority Government Involving Sweden Democrats

Sweden's coalition parties, known as the Tidö parties, have announced intentions to form a majority government following the upcoming autumn elections. The plan includes the Sweden Democrats (SD) as...

More Quick Read Articles »
German PKV Insurance

German Private Health Insurance

Both private Health Insurance in Germany and public insurance, is often complicated to navigate, not to mention expensive. As an expat, you are required to navigate this landscape within weeks of arriving, so check our FAQ on PKV. For our guide on resources and access to agents who can give you a competitive quote, try our PKV Cost comparison tool.

Hospitals

Hospital and Clinic Directory

Germany is famous for its medical expertise and extensive number of hospitals and clinics. See this comprehensive directory of hospitals and clinics across the country, complete with links to their websites, addresses, contact info, and specializations/services.

Events

Upcoming Events

Echtzeitalter

Join us for the premiere of Echtzeitalter, a captivating theater production based on the novel by Tonio Schachinger. The story follows Till, a new student at a prestigious gymnasium, who grapples with the outdated teaching methods of his strict teacher, Dolinar. As Till navigates his elite...