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Germany set to restrict its Freedom of Information Act

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Re: Germany set to restrict its Freedom of Information Act

#131

Post by u8080 »

Paradigma11 wrote: post #129
u8080 wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When you are leading manufacturing power in region and loosing markets to China while allowing external powers to destroy your energy supplies(banning nuclear and blowing Nord Stream 2). No political bullshit will help with objective reality, being it rightoids who promise "optimizing" social spendings(while leaching on corruption) or leftoids who want to tax the rich(which will just drive factories and businesses to…

The destruction of Northstream 2 had no effect at all on the energy supply to Germany. The remaining capacity to Russia was never used over 50%, if that. Considering Russia intentionally drove up prices in the months leading up to the invasion and even rented storage capacity to keep it empty to better blackmail, there never was a sane argument for keeping the gas imports from Russia going.

Limiting supply is limiting bargaining power, you will always end up with better deal even having worse alternative option. As a buyer you want as much supply as possible.

Re: Germany set to restrict its Freedom of Information Act

#132

Post by constantius »

Jamesbeam wrote: post #78
miohtama wrote: post #18

What incidents are driving such a change?

Retaliation for exposing major character flaws of the chancellor’s cabinet and potentially corruptness of major CDU (Christian Democratic Union) figures close to the chancellor seems a plausible answer. FoIA requests humiliated half of the chancellor’s cabinet this year, including the chancellor himself. The agricultural minister (CSU)(CDUs sister party) was especially proud of his nickname "the black butcher". Someo…

Thanks for the overview: the common and intuitive view when transparency is attacked in this way is that the ruling class wants to protect themselves, and your list provides ample evidence.

I hope the Parliament doesn't buy the story about protecting critical infrastructure.

Re: Germany set to restrict its Freedom of Information Act

#134

Post by tancop »

sajithdilshan wrote: post #89
inigyou wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guess the Left or the Greens or the useless SPD could theoretically win the elections. It won't happen though. It'll be AfD.

[flagged]

theres a world of difference between a left party, even radical left like die linke, and ddr style communist dictatorship. and i dont like the greens views on nuclear power but they might be the only one who can save germany from afd fascism and cdu family-values flavored petty authoritarianism.

if your definition of center right is fdp then get ready for even more corruption and corporate capture of everything that matters. privatized railways and utilities, anti union laws, unregulated pollution, stagnant wages and the rich getting richer. theres a reason its called the businessmans party.

from an outside pov it looks like there is no center right or center left party that cares about both civil rights and working/middle class economic interests. the only "reasonable" option is the radical left. if someone lives in germany and thinks im wrong please correct me.

Re: Germany set to restrict its Freedom of Information Act

#135

Post by yukeabu »

For decades, we have become accustomed to similar anti-constitutional moves from the CDU/CSU. Remarkably, while the German government fails to implement such policies, former CDU chancellor candidate Ursula von der Leyen is pushing them through at the EU level. For some reason, she is now at the helm of the EU. According to German law, anti-constitutional actions are normally considered terrorism.

Re: Germany set to restrict its Freedom of Information Act

#136

Post by dyauspitr »

maratc wrote: post #88
dyauspitr wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It doesn’t have immigrants so the right wing tries extra hard to paint it as rosy.

There are about 1.5 million immigrants from Ukraine alone.

White immigrants. Don’t act naive.

Re: Germany set to restrict its Freedom of Information Act

#137

Post by dyauspitr »

greenavocado wrote: post #94
dyauspitr wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It doesn’t have immigrants so the right wing tries extra hard to paint it as rosy.

Where is the lie?

It’s not that rosy? Especially compared to literally every country in Western Europe.

Re: Germany set to restrict its Freedom of Information Act

#138

Post by black_puppydog »

BadBadJellyBean wrote: post #81
Aeolun wrote: post #37

Wait? They previously allowed everybody and their mother to request the information? Limiting it to ‘citizens of the european union’ seems eminently reasonable.

There is more to it. To request information you have to have some "legitimate interest" which is not yet defined and sounds like an easy way to not give out information. Also no more NGOs. They were the ones who had the most power to wrestle information out of the hands of rather unwilling parties. The cost of going to court for this would deter most private persons.

Also no more limit on the cost they can bill you for providing the information. This can easily be 5 figures and isn't known before it's too late.

Re: Germany set to restrict its Freedom of Information Act

#139

Post by mhh__ »

It doesn't feel nice to say but hearing from people I know who work in politics just how much the prospect of having to disclose something changes behaviour (in what people say but also where they say it) I'd be in favour of some moves like this in Britain.

There is obviously a very good reason for transparency but I think the full extent of FOI is basically like asking if someone is wearing trousers on a call

Re: Germany set to restrict its Freedom of Information Act

#140

Post by sva_ »

inigyou wrote: post #104
sam_lowry_ wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Its economy has been growing for 30 years non-stop, to the point that it is now compared to Singapore.

Economic growth is not the kind that's being referred to. I think Germany is also economically growing? It doesn't matter, they are still decaying in most ways.

> I think Germany is also economically growing?

Barely, and it was in a recession 2023-2024.

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