Deutschland says Libertas Nein Danke as Libertas fail in Germany bid for EU

[mccafferty cat]

So let me get this straight: Libertas collected the 4,000 signatures......but didn't submit them to the relevant authorities.

So the imcompetence of Libertas staff has led to this?

Given that Ganley is all in favour of transparency and accountability, surely staff heads will roll after this embarassment?

[OMahonyMunster]

So let me get this straight: Libertas collected the 4,000 signatures......but didn't submit them to the relevant authorities.

So the imcompetence of Libertas staff has led to this?

Given that Ganley is all in favour of transparency and accountability, surely staff heads will roll after this embarassment?

that is what they say but they did NOT get more than 3500 verifiable signitures

[marmurr1916]

So let me get this straight: Libertas collected the 4,000 signatures......but didn't submit them to the relevant authorities.

So the imcompetence of Libertas staff has led to this?

Given that Ganley is all in favour of transparency and accountability, surely staff heads will roll after this embarassment?

According to their lead candidate in Germany, Carlos Gebauer, they collected over the 4,000 signatures needed. However, only 3,500 signatures in the correct format, 'formwirksame Unterschriften', (i.e. verified), were lodged with the collection agency in Wiesbaden by the deadline.

Gebauer partly blamed 'bureaucratic hurdles' and partly blamed lack of time to organise the campaign.

He didn't explain that any 'bureaucratic hurdles' appplying to Libertas Deutschland would have applied equally to any other prospective political party.

Gebauer and the other prospective Libertas Deutschland candidates can't really stand as independents, since "only parties that have gained five percent of valid votes are considered in the allocation of seats" under German electoral law.

They could join Aktion Unabhängige Kandidaten (Independent Candidates Action) which is looking for candidates, assuming AUK would have them.

Libertas Deutschland will also miss out on potential funding for the next elections:

Any party and/or political association which obtained at least 0.5 % of the valid votes cast is entitled to public funding from the federal budget: € 0,85 per vote for the first four million valid votes cast for their list, and € 0,70 for any votes exceeding this number. Public reporting about funding and other donations is carried out following the Party Act (Parteiengesetz).

So, if they had managed to register as a party, and their list of candidates had managed to get at least 0.5% of valid votes, they'd have qualified for funding as stated above.

[mccafferty cat]

Well yes, so its either:

1) Libertas are telling the truth (for once), and admit that their staff are incompetent morons

or

2) They couldn't even get 4000 measley signatures in a country of 80 million people, thus highlighting their absolute lack of appeal

Which is more hilarious?

[mccafferty cat]

I hate to be the first to ask the obvious question - but why didn't they just take the same approach as they took in another country? ie. forge the 500 signatures that they needed

[marmurr1916]

Libertas are telling the truth (for once), and admit that their staff are incompetent morons

'Libertas: incompetent morons': that would make a great slogan for their 'people's billboard campaign'.

Better get an entry in quick: the deadline is April 3rd!

The winning billboard design will be put up "in at least one location in Europe".

I'd expect a publicity stunt associated with the winning billboard design in Brussels soon after that date (unless of course they miss the deadline).

[marmurr1916]

They couldn't even get 4000 measley signatures in a country of 80 million people, thus highlighting their absolute lack of appeal

And despite an urgent request on their (no doubt expensive) website:

Libertas braucht dringend Ihre Hilfe!

Libertas urgently needs your help!

Doch dazu braucht Libertas dringend Ihre Unterstützung: Um an der Europawahl teilnehmen zu können, benötigen wir 4000 Unterschriften bis zum 31. März 2009. Bis jetzt sind noch nicht genügend Unterschriften eingegangen!

However, in addition, Libertas urgently needs your support: to be able to take part in the European elections, we need 4,000 signatures by 31 March, 2009. At the moment, not enough signatures have been received!

So können Sie uns helfen:

1. Laden Sie sich das Unterstützerformular herunter und füllen Sie es vollständig aus: Name, Vorname, Anschrift, Ort, Datum. Vergessen Sie nicht Ihre eigenhändige Unterschrift! Unionsbürger ohne deutsche Staatsbürgerschaft müssen zusätzlich die Wahlberechtsbestätigung für Unionsbürger ausfüllen.

2. Drucken Sie weitere Exemplare und bitten Sie auch Familienmitglieder, Freunde, Bekannte, Kollegen, im Verein etc. um eine Unterschrift. Zusätzliches Informationsmaterial finden Sie im Anhang.

3. Sie, wenn möglich, die gesammelten Formulare beim Wahlamt (Bürgerbüro, Einwohnermeldeamt) beglaubigen
-ODER-
bringen Sie die Formulare bis spätestens Dienstag 9:00 Uhr zu einer unserer Sammelstellen - wir kümmern uns um den Rest

4. Wenn in Ihrer Nähe keine Sammelstelle eingerichtet ist, schicken Sie die Unterschriften so schnell wie möglich im Original per Post an die folgende Adresse (Achtung: neue Anschrift!):
Michael Duller
c/o Hotel Drei Lilien
Spiegelgasse 3
65183 Wiesbaden

This is how you can help us:

1. Download the supporter's form and fill it in completely: Surname, first name, address, town/city, date. Don't forget your own signature! EU citizens without German citizenship must also fill in the Wahlberechtsbestätigung (Election law authorisation) for EU citizens.

2. Print more copies and also ask family members, friends, acquaintances, colleagues, fellow club members etc. for a signature. You'll find additional information in the appendix.

3. If possible, bring the accumulated forms to the electoral office (civil office, registration office) for certification
-OR-
bring the forms by Tuesday 9:00 o'clock at the latest to one of our collection points - we'll look after the rest.

4. If there's no collection point nearby, send the original signatures as fast as possible by post to the following address (attention: new address!):
Michael Duller
c/o Hotel Drei Lilien
Spiegelgasse 3
65183 Wiesbaden


The formidable nature of the Libertas Deutschland organisation is amply illustrated by these collection points.

They included a remote-control car shop in Leipzig (Hobby Heinz), a restaurant in a suburb of Stuttgart (Restaurant Wiesental - closed on Wednesdays), a delivery firm in central Munich (Spedition Kaut)

and

a 'full-service" promotions agency in Hamburg (Service Team Promotions) that specialises in running promotions (i.e. pretty girls handing out flyers, collecting addresses etc.) for bars, restaurants, nightclubs etc. along with an impressive list of clients. I'd imagine their services don't come cheap.

Service Team Promotions are located in Hamburg, have a "variety of qualified employees in eight locations throughout Germany" and "are happy to offer their support for regional and nationwide events and promotions."

I wonder what role they played in collecting signatures for Libertas: were paid promotions staff used as part of a 'grassroots' campaign?

The other collection points included the Berlin branch of a store specialising in selling car-batteries, chargers, lamps etc. (battcenter) and named individuals in Bochum and Cologne.

It seems strange that a grassroots organisation like Libertas would need the services of a promotions agency to collect signatures.

[FutureTaoiseach]

Who said I supported Lisbon? I have many reservations about Lisbon and did not exercise my franchise in disgust at the way the official parties completely failed to 1/ put their case
2/ Take the threat of the far right and private interests seriously.

I personnally felt that the established parties deserved the wake up call.

What I have more reservations about is US Defence contractors buying elections.

I think the Left see fascism everywhere just like Fox News sees "Socialism" everywhere. It's your version of McCarthyism. Democracy needs a left and rightwing to fly.

[ibis]

'Libertas: incompetent morons': that would make a great slogan for their 'people's billboard campaign'.

Better get an entry in quick: the deadline is April 3rd!

The winning billboard design will be put up "in at least one location in Europe".

I'd expect a publicity stunt associated with the winning billboard design in Brussels soon after that date (unless of course they miss the deadline).

"Libertas - still a few Germans short of a party."

[TommyO'Brien]

"libertas - still a few germans short of a party."

I like it.