Posted on 09/18/2005 12:12:37 AM PDT by alessandrofiaschi
Voting began in Germany's closely fought election today with millions of undecided voters holding the key to a result that will have major implications for economic reform in Europe.
Angela Merkel, a Christian Democrat (CDU) chancellor, is expected to emerge as Germany's first woman chancellor, displacing Gerhard Schroeder who has led Germany for the past seven years at the head of a centre-left government of Social Democrats and Greens.
A provisional result is expected to be announced in the early hours of Monday morning. The final opinion polls published on Friday gave Merkel's centre-right coalition with the liberal Free Democrats (FDP) a slim lead in a race it once dominated.
High stakes For Germany and the rest of Europe, the stakes in the election are high. Some five million Germans are out of work, the country's pensions system is in crisis, its public finances are overstretched and the economy that once drove growth in Europe is now acting as a drag on the rest of the continent.
Analysts say that if Germany succeeds in pushing through reforms, they could be a model for change in the rest of Europe. Surveys show that most Germans believe the system needs changing but they are deeply uncertain about how far the changes should go and how the burden should be shared.
Schroeder's own "Agenda 2010" reforms to welfare and labour market rules have been the most ambitious attempt to overhaul the social security system in decades. They have been attacked by the conservatives and by some commentators as not going far enough. The reforms were bitterly resented by voters. - Reuters
Get used to it, it called eating your political own.
An almost Olympic sport to a small but very vocal minority on FR(i.e buchanan/tancredo supporters).
" what the hell is the problem with Germany?"
Germans ?
Like I said before, I am not knowledgable on the inner machinations of German politics, but there is an old American political saying, that Merkal is in a pickle, given these election results.
Is it possible she could peel away some SPD'ers.
So is mine. But remember we did impeach him, and that is a very rare thing even if the vote failed.
And I am very pessimestic about Germany emerging from the swamp of Socialism at all.
What do you mean?
Based on what we now know, the title is premature/misleading, should we change it?
There was talk that Blair would be able to improve relations with Germany if Merkel took office. That appears to be an idle hope.
Regards, Ivan
This is good news.
All I really know about Germany is what my son tells me -- he has been stationed there for two years and hopes to remain there another year. He loves it.
However, he says the German men are sissyboys who wear tight knit shirts, capri pants, carry purses and giggle like school girls. He said they are completely intimidated by the Turks in Germany who operate in gangs to beat up people and steal paychecks, and who have no respect for the all the things that make Germany a wonderful place.
Thanks Ivan. I didn't know that relations between Germany and England had been strained.
All you hear from the MSM here is that it's only America and Big Bad Bush that has anything less than perfect harmony with other nations.
Oh God no - Blair and Schroeder don't get on at all. Blair despises Chirac too.
Regards, Ivan
dang - looks like I posted too soon ....
From what you posted, it looks as if the German people don't either.
Yes, I agree
No doubt, there's a testosterone shortage in Germany. But some of the women pick up the slack.
Lots of hilariously ignorant and stupid rubbish being posted here by people who have NO idea whatsoever about modern Germany and its social, political and economic systems.
The result has been a surprise in that Merkel did so badly. My view is that it was appointing Kirchhof, the flat-tax reform advocate, to her future cabinet which torpedoed her chances. That was a non-starter and complete vote-loser. Dumb!
Things will be interesting in the next few days, as coalition talks get under way and the results become more precise. However, whether a few more percent would have changed things is debatable; Merkel is no Thatcher.
A Grand Coalition wouldn't be the worst option, given the voting patterns.
So calm down, everyone.
This is an amazing statement. Where on earth is he stationed?
He's in Bavaria.
I´ve allowed myself a bottle of wine. I cannot believe it. It´s the worst case, and even these worse worst case, lol. It´s unbelievable, we´re all stunned and can´t really comment it.
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