Wahlparty
February 23, 2025
On the day of the parliamentary elections, we organized the first Russian-language Wahlparty in Germany.

Even during registration, when spots were filling up within 5 to 10 minutes, we realized there was enormous interest in the elections and our event among the audience.

In the end, more than 300 guests joined us; for three hours, we discussed the election campaigns and preliminary results, listened to those who volunteered at polling stations and voted for the first time that day, got to know each other, and discussed what lies ahead.

Thank you to our partner bpb for the idea and for launching the project together. Thank you to our partners: “Kanzler and Berghain” and GENAU for their help in organizing the event.

You can view photos from the event via the link, and watch the online broadcast right here. See the photos at the link.
Live stream of the event
Even serious politics (and German politics is a serious business) has a human side—and this is best seen at an event the Germans call a “Wahlparty.”

A real election isn’t just the dry voice of a news anchor announcing results made up of numbers and letters. It is the crossing of the finish line by sweaty, exhausted runners; it is the finale of a contest of ideas, platforms, and personalities, where the suspense lasts until the very last minute. Just like in any competition where there are winners and losers, an election is the moment when all attention is focused on a single point.

And this year, we—the Federal Agency for Civic Education (BZP) and WIR.DE, with support from “Kanzler und Berghain” and GENAU—have decided to organize the first-ever Russian-language election party in German history to share a piece of vibrant political culture with everyone living in Berlin who speaks Russian and cares about German politics.

We invite you to gather on election night to watch the first projections and vote counts live, place bets, gossip about the campaigns and results, listen to political commentary and analysis, joke around, and vent—to experience the excitement.

Here’s what awaits you:

— a discussion of the election coverage led by Alex Yusupov and Dima Vachedin, hosts of the “Chancellor and Berghain” podcast, who are experts at making complex topics understandable;
— a live broadcast with results, a discussion of political social media, and initial assessments of what just happened;
— guests from various parties and political analysts who will take the stage to celebrate or mourn live on air.

We want you to have a great time and get to wear your best suit or evening gown. We want to be among curious, intelligent people who know how to laugh. We want to have a drink with you and spend this very special evening together.

This event is for viewers 16 and older.
We look forward to seeing you on February 23 at Theater im Delphi, located at Gustav-Adolf-Straße 2, 13086 Berlin (Weißensee)
To apply for media accreditation, please email us lab.wir.de@gmail.com.
Program
16:00
16:00
Opening the doors
17:00
17:00
Follow the election results live with the hosts of the “Chancellor and Berghain” podcast
20:00
20:00
Evening program
DJ of Tomorrow
22:00
22:00
Closing
Kanzler and Berghain
The podcast is hosted by journalist Dima Vachedin and political analyst Alex Yusupov
For years, Alex and Dima put up with the notion that “German politics is boring,” until one day they decided to bang their fists on the (kitchen) table. Launched on February 7, 2023, in a kitchen in Berlin’s Charlottenburg district, this Russian-language podcast—which features no advertising—regularly ranks among the top German political podcasts and delivers on its promise: “No one has ever talked about German politics like this before.”
This event is part of the project “Multivocality—Elections 2025: Education Instead of Manipulation,” organized by the Federal Agency for Civic Education (BfB) and WIR.DE Aktive Nachbarn. Learn more about the project and other events you can find out here
Photos from the event
Partners
Cooperative partner