Dear friends,
Many of you probably feel the same: while the Hamburg elections are a success, the disappointment about the German federal elections is real. We aimed high, but we didn’t make it into the Bundestag.
LET’S LEARN FROM THIS
That said, Volt ran a truly impressive campaign and has had some successes. We managed to field strong candidates, get on the ballot in all sixteen federal states, develop a solid program, and mobilise so many people who put up posters, debated, and fought for our cause. A huge thank you for that!
I’m especially impressed by our result in Hamburg: 3.3 percent – that’s strong! It shows that we are a relevant political force. At the same time, we have to be honest: 0.7 percent nationwide leaves room for improvement.
I believe we had the potential for more, especially in a time when the governing coalition was struggling, Merz isn’t exactly winning hearts, and our ideas are more relevant than ever. Yes, the election was highly polarised, many voted strategically, and smaller parties faced headwinds. But instead of focusing solely on external factors, we should ask ourselves: How can we do better?
HOW WE CAN DO BETTER
We have to be realistic, and I would like to share three things I have observed:
First: We need to talk more about ourselves and our solutions rather than criticism of others. That needs good preparation and fact-based argumentation. Our ideas are strong—they deserve to be front and center, not just criticism of others.
Second: To grow, we have to reach people beyond our own bubble. That doesn’t mean watering down our ideals. But we should listen more instead of lecturing and clearly explain why our solutions are the better ones. We need to go back to convincing, rather than attacking.
Third: We need to strike the right balance between competence and emotional appeal—just like we did in the European elections. Our topics are great, but we have to promote them in a sexy way.
TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK
This is not criticism of those who gave everything—it’s the opposite. It’s an invitation: let’s learn together, improve, and grow. That’s why I want to hear your thoughts: How can we do better next time? Reach out to me on Instagram, LinkedIn, send me a direct message, or talk to me in person. And I hope that soon we can have discussions within the party about how to put these ideas into action. I will definitely be involved.
The work continues. We have a lot ahead of us—and the next elections can be our moment if we believe in ourselves and our ideas!
Yours
Damian
