MPs to vote on calling a referendum for Britain to leave EU

[Teebs]

Now, something our non-german viewers should be made aware of: the CSU is only on the ballot in the southern states, since they are allied with the much bigger CDU. But they still have to clear the percentage threshold to enter parliament. Due to that and their worsening polling numbers, they seemed very near failing to do so. Thise would have hurt the conservatists in the EU parliament and would have been pretty embarrassing for incumbent chancellor Merkel, who was up for re-election later that year.

Surely the CSU would win the required 3 direct seats regardless, so the threshold percentage becomes less important? Or am I missing something?

[Thanas]

Direct seats are just that. You get these and nothing else. So there would be three people sitting in parliament fiddling their thumbs - they cannot even form a faction etc.

Direct seats are only good for individual representation, not the party.

[Teebs]

Direct seats are just that. You get these and nothing else. So there would be three people sitting in parliament fiddling their thumbs - they cannot even form a faction etc.

Direct seats are only good for individual representation, not the party.

I was under the impression that three direct seats sufficed as an alternative to the 5% threshold to get your proportional seats. I'm sure I remember the Left Party, or whatever they used to call themselves keeping a decent number of seats through that mechanism one election.
*checks*
Yup, I remembered correctly. In the 1994 federal election won 4 direct seats and so ended up with about 30 despite getting only 4.4% of the vote.

[D.Turtle]

Direct seats are just that. You get these and nothing else. So there would be three people sitting in parliament fiddling their thumbs - they cannot even form a faction etc.

Direct seats are only good for individual representation, not the party.

Not quite correct. Once 3 people of one party get into parliament through direct mandates, that party gets proportionally as many seats as they got votes and not just the 3 direct seats. So winning 4.9% of the votes including three mandates would mean that that party gets 4.9% of the seats in parliament.

However, in order to be recognized as a "Fraktion" in parliament - which gives additional rights for that Fraktion - you have to have 5% of the seats in parliament. The PDS for some years got less than 5% of the votes, but got enough direct seats (in former East Germany) to get seats proportionate to their vote total. However, since they had less than 5% of the seats, they where only recognized as a group and not as a Fraktion.

And yes, the CSU is in no danger of not getting enough seats/votes in order to get into parliament. In addition, since they are in the CDU/CSU Fraktion, they are not in danger of losing their status as a Fraktions.

[Skgoa]

You guys should keep in mind that I was refering to the european parliament...