Franconian Beer Message Board
Das Rauchverbot & Politics |
| Posted by Nick B. on 2008-10-11 01:39:29 |
| The country's strictest smoking ban was enacted by the Bavarian state legislature last December. The legislature had been dominated by the conservative CSU party--they'd had a majority (more than 50% of the seats) for 40+ years. General state elections are held every 5 years. Last time, in 2003, the CSU won 57% under their beloved leader Edmund Stoiber. Then Stoiber was forced to step down last year because of a sexy maverick woman legislator from Fürth, and the two guys who subsequently split his job couldn't get their act together. This, in addition with growing discontent about the general economic state of the state led to the CSU getting only 43% of the vote in the general election held two weekends ago. The first victims of the fallout are the two "Weißwürstschen" party heads (they both happen to be not terribly tall guys, who also happen to look a little bumbly, hence the derogatory nicknames "Weißwust-lets" from those who scoff them), who announced their resignations. The next victim--aye, the smoking ban. The new CSU head has announced that the Rauchverbot will be modified, and has always said that "mistakes were made" in implementing such a strict one in the first place. The CSU will have to form a coalition with another party in order to rule the legislature, and it will probably be with the libertarian-minded FDP, who are against a Rauchverbot of any kind, I think. Just how the Rauchverbot will be changed is not clear. The "Saarland" and "Spanish" models are being discussed, and I fear that in the end, we'll end up back where we were a year ago: with a voluntary Rauchverbot. Which means, of course, that virtually no places will be smoke free. So, it was nice while it lasted. Eh, we'll save some money from not going out to eat or drink except in Bierkeller weather, I guess. 71% of Germans are pleased with the Rauchverbot laws, according to a survey I saw reported in the paper. Despite this.... |
| Followups: |
 Das Rauchverbot & Politics by A Harvey on 2008-10-12 02:28:46 |
| Das Rauchverbot & Politics by Uncle Jimbo on 2008-10-14 07:23:02 |
| One-Room Kneipen, Seperate Rooms in Gaststätten by Nick B. on 2008-10-16 08:14:48 |
| One-Room Kneipen, Seperate Rooms in Gaststätten by Treinjan on 2008-10-17 00:51:33 |
| One-Room Kneipen, Separate Rooms in Gaststätten by Treinjan on 2008-10-17 00:58:47 |
| One-Room Kneipen = Cafe Abseits? by Uncle Jimbo on 2008-10-17 06:13:51 |
| One-Room Kneipen = Cafe Abseits? by Nick B. on 2008-10-17 07:40:21 |
| One-Room Kneipen, Seperate Rooms in Gaststätten by Uncle Jimbo on 2008-10-17 14:56:24 |
| links by Uncle Jimbo on 2008-10-17 15:05:18 |
| links by Treinjan on 2008-10-18 00:58:30 |
| links by Treinjan on 2008-10-18 01:03:13 |
| links by Treinjan on 2008-10-18 01:04:46 |
| links by Uncle Jimbo on 2008-10-18 08:08:18 |
| links by Treinjan on 2008-10-18 13:50:04 |
| links by Uncle Jimbo on 2008-10-18 15:14:48 |
| The EU... by Nick B. on 2008-10-26 05:24:49 |