ZDF broadcasts election night

The view from the inside of an election campaign can provide real insights as two CCGES students found out during the run-up to the recent German federal elections. Ben Bryce (PhD candidate, History) and Frederick Peters (PhD candidate, Political Science) were selected to take part in the one-week trip for international graduate students organized by CCGES’ sister-Centre, the Duitsland Instituut/Amsterdam, and funded by the German Academic Exchange Service. In addition to meetings with experts and election staff at which they parsed the issues and positions central to the campaign, the group’s itinerary also included the final Berlin rallies of all the major parties and an election evening event from which Germany’s large public broadcaster ZDF reported on the vote results.

In the aftermath of the vote, Frederick Peters took the time to jot down some impressions of election night and the campaign as he experienced it on the trip. To read his thoughts click on the live link to the right: Report on the German Federal Elections 2009.

Below are some photos which Frederick took during his time with the group. Clicking on an image will open window with a larger version of the image.

Gysi and The Left Party piggybacked by Lafontaine

Stiff politicians - Election night props for ZDF TV

I always thought she was taller than that.

SPD rally, Sept. 25: What do you make of those clouds, Franz?

The Left Party on Alexanderplatz, Sept. 25

Gysi calls it as he sees it, Sept. 25

CDU rally, Sept. 26 - Team Germany American-style