Angela Merkel’s CDU party makes a promise to support development of Esports
Just ahead of the 2017 federal elections in Germany, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has included a commitment to esports in its election campaign. While it’s a small reference, esports made it into the conservatives government program as one of the party’s political ideas for the upcoming term 2017 to 2021.
Video games are an “important cultural asset,” according to the Angela Merkel’s CDU. The conservatives promise to “positively support the development of esports and take care of suitable conditions.” The CDU’s sudden endorsement of esports comes as a surprise for many. Traditionally, Merkel’s conservative party isn’t necessarily known as an advocate of video games. Thomas de Maizière, CDU minister of the interior, revitalized the term “Killerspiele” (killer games), partially blaming violent video games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive for the 2016 Munich shooting.
On esports side of things, things weren’t any brighter. considering it as a sport in Germany wasn’t something the CDU is very supportive about. Last year, Frank Henkel, Senator of the Interior in Berlin, answered a request by the Pirate Party about the recognition of esports with the notion that it’s just a “trend sport” that’s not eligible for assistance. Henkel cited the guidelines set by the German Olympic Sports Confederation (GOSC), which argue that esports “lacks its own motoric activity.”
CDU‘s support of esports comes about a month after its current coalition partner and political competitor, the Social Democratic Party, also included esports in its manifesto. For Germany’s most influential video games lobby group, the BIU, the CDU‘s mention of esports in their manifesto is another big win. The group that represents the interests the likes of ESL, Activision Blizzard, and Riot Games in Germany, had launched an esports-dedicated division in June last year. In January, the BIU had publicly demanded the recognition of esports by all political parties. Securing the support of Germany’s largest party, the CDU, is certainly the group’s biggest achievement yet.
