Fred-Rik. My familiarity with European political systems is with the Czech and Slovak parliaments. Fairly simple to understand; I thought that model was typical of western Europe. So I took your bait and went to Wikipedia Germany and down a few links to its structures of government. I was was quite surprised. The German model is closer to the American model (pre 17th admendment) than the PR in CR and SR. The Germans did adopt the American version!!!!!

I couldn't easily find exactly how the states elect/appoint their representatives to the Bundesrat. Something for further study.

But there is still political parties involved in Germany. We have to rise above that.