They deserve whatever they get, too.
Spoorendonk, if she had been wise, should have realized that the SSW, with 3 % of the vote, had no business determining the political direction of S-H and the Bundesrepublik, and politely declined any attempts to form a coalition with either party.
Instead, she seized the opportunity for the spotlight and rushed to any camera available to blabber about her Steckenpferd, the Gesamtschulen, complete with abolishing grades, abolishing staying back, etc.
Another SSW member, right after the February 20th election, when asked why he felt the SPD had lost so many voters compared to 2000, replied, "I guess the voters felt that the economy wasn't going too well." Spoorendonk, instead of understanding this principle, completely ignored it. Simonis, in her bid to maintain power, ignored the message as well.
What's unemployment in S-H, about 15%, one of the highest in the former West? So you have high unemployment and have to endure the Frauenpower trio of Simonis, Juettkes and Spoorendonk as they pontificate about their take on the real evil in S-H, namely, the ignominy of having your kids get grades in school?
The SPD will be lucky if they get a grand coalition. I think new elections, which the voters in S-H want, would wipe them out.
It's really amazing to see how the German media is describing the renegade; "Backstabber", "Shabby", "Devious". Actually, by abstaining, he/she allowed the mirroring of the results of the popular vote. The CDU/FDP got more votes than the SPD/Greens. The SSW, existing at the whim of a 60 year old agreement, and representing 3% of the vote, got to play kingmaker until this person's abstention threw sand in the gears.
Schroeder must see the writing on the wall to have pushed for 4 votes to pressure the abstainee into the open, or to change his/her vote. His machinations backfired this time.
Now, with the good possibility of NRW going to the Union in May, his days may be numbered.
longjack
Actually, it isn´t the media insulting the "renegade", they´re just reporting what the Left says. Treason depends on the viewpoint. Imagine the same situation just with the CDU/FDP in the place of the SPD/Greens with a Christian Democrat refusing to accept the "Danish coalition" - Mr Müntefering and all the others had praised this great MP for showing morale!
I find it pretty much undemocratic to insult this person. He/she in no way "abused" the secrecy of the election. This is why we have it: nobody shall be offended, attacked, insulted for his/her vote. This IS democracy, and who doesn´t accept it, may harbour ill against the rebel, but must not blame him for following his/her free will.