Elections in Australia: Where Democracy Eats Sausage – Politics

It’s about sausage. Australians elect their parliament on Saturday. At the polls, they do not draw crosses here, but use numbers to indicate the desired order of candidates on the ballot. But the fact that the Australian election is different from Saturday’s German election is aimed at voter intuition and waiting outside the door: the sausage of democracy.

There is a sausage grill in front of many polling stations in Australia, where voters can strengthen themselves after a hard vote. Traditionally, volunteers send freshly roasted sausage to the country’s usual soft roll at a camping table. Mustard, ketchup – here Tomato chutney Is called – as well as kerkins and fried onions complete the messy texture. One is worth two or three euros CaptureProceeds go to charity.

Of Democracy sausage sizzle It is considered a national institution and a living democracy – yet it is not designed to get voters to vote in physical ways. Because they have to choose anyway. Failure to do so will result in a fine. Voting is mandatory, so there will be plenty of people coming to the polls, which is a good place to gather for a good cause.

The offer often includes coffee and cake, eggs and bacon and anything else popular with voters. But the most noticeable trend is to stay away from meat. Recently, the Animal Rights Party of Australia called for the introduction of plant-based alternatives everywhere.

In many places this has been going on for a long time. And has been one for a long time Interactive map where voters can read what recipes are waiting in front of their polling booth. Accordingly, in the election three years ago, 387 vegetarians were served at the 2,218 Democratic sausage stands listed there. In 2016, only 74 people did.

The regional distribution of vegetarian preferences reflects the political climate of the constituencies. In the suburbs dominated by cattle ranching and the rural National Party, meat-free food is not really liked, which makes city dwellers discriminate against the countryside. Bogans He was convinced who would rather fight a crocodile than bite a vegetarian sausage.

In contrast, Labor opposition leader Anthony Albanese has a high density of vegan democrat sausage grillers in the constituency. It includes the University of Sydney campus and the hip, alternative district of Newtown, lined with its King Street next vegetarian restaurant. On the other hand, in Wentworth, Sydney’s affluent East, the number of vegetarians indicates how much the ruling Liberals fear the new competition of independent female candidates who are vegetarians but do not like the government’s climate policy.

Of course, politicians and parties are not allowed to serve sausages. It can be considered as buying illegal votes. After all, democracy is not a rude position.