Germany's Schroeder Refuses to Concede

Exit polls showed conservative challenger Angela Merkel's party leading in German parliamentary elections Sunday but falling short of the majority she needed to form a center-right coalition as the nation's first female chancellor.

Gerhard Schroeder refused to concede defeat and said he could still theoretically remain in power if talks with other parties were successful.

"I feel myself confirmed in ensuring on behalf of our country that there is in the next four years a stable government under my leadership," he said to cheering supporters at his Social Democrat party headquarters.

But Merkel claimed her party received a mandate from voters to form a new coalition government to carry out her plan to mend frayed ties with the United States.

"What is important now is to form a stable government for the people in Germany, and we ... quite clearly have the mandate to do that," she said.

Both Schroeder and Merkel said they would talk to all parties except the new Left Party, a combination of ex-communists and renegade Social Democrats.

Sunday's vote centered on different visions of Germany's role in the world and how to fix its sputtering economy. Schroeder touted the country's role as a European leader and counterbalance to America, while Merkel pledged to reform the moribund economy and repair ties with Washington.

An exit poll by ZDF public television showed Merkel's Christian Democrats at 35.7 percent and the Social Democrats 33.6 percent. Merkel's preferred coalition partner — the pro-business Free Democrats — had 10.4 percent, while current Schroeder coalition partner Greens received 8.2 percent.

ARD public television showed near-identical results, with Merkel's party at 35.7 percent and the Social Democrats at 33.7 percent.

The Christian Democrats' projected totals were considerably worse than expected. Merkel's party consistently polled above 40 percent during the campaign.

The results open a period of uncertainty as the parties negotiate to form a government. Voters were choosing lawmakers for the 598-seat lower house of parliament, which elects the chancellor to head the government.

Had Merkel reached a majority with the Free Democrats, they would have formed a center-right government to push through her proposals to get the economy going and cut unemployment by making it easier for small firms to fire people, cutting payroll taxes and giving companies more flexibility to opt out of one-size-fits-all regional wage agreements.

If she does become chancellor, she likely will have to water down her program as she partners with a party to her left in order to hold 50 percent of the seats in parliament. Merkel's party already controls the upper house of parliament.

The most likely combination, analysts have said, is a "grand coalition" between Merkel's party and Schroeder's party. Most predictions were that Schroeder would not participate in such a government, but his defiant statements Sunday cast doubt on that.

Free Democrats leader Guido Westerwelle said his party would not work with the current government pair, the Social Democrats and Greens.

If the new parliament cannot elect a chancellor in three tries, President Horst Koehler could appoint a minority government led by the candidate with a simple majority.

Merkel's plan to patch up relations with Washington, which frayed after Schroeder's refusal to back the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, resonated with voters, as did her position that Turkey should not be allowed full membership in the 25-nation European Union.

"A country like Turkey just doesn't belong in the European community," said voter Torsten Quade, 41. "We're already going to let in countries like Romania and Bulgaria, and this is already too much because of how far behind they are."

But other voters said they supported Schroeder's party because he kept Germany out of the Iraq war and pushed for diplomacy to resolve concerns about Iran's nuclear program. Germany is one of three nations representing the EU in talks with Tehran.

"When you have a son coming of military age, this makes it even more important to vote for a government that isn't eager to go to war," said Stefan Deutscher, a 38-year-old business consultant voting in Berlin.

Schroeder called for the election a year ahead of time in frustration at resistance to his attempts to fix Europe's biggest economy, as unemployment hit record highs in his seven years in power and growth was sluggish. His limited measures cutting taxes and long-term jobless benefits have been slow to show convincing results.

Ahh yes, the old wise European's are sophisticated and so well educated, while us "cowboys" just do see the "bigger picture".

I had relatives who were party members of the NSDAP. Who served in the Wehrmacht, and who served on the US side. My family had just immigrated not to long before WWI and parts are still there today. Where do you think 60% of all Americans can trace 1/8 or more of their heritage too?

I lived a total of 21 years in Germany, speak German fluently and served there in the Army as well for 3 years. I went to a German school in my early years. I have traveled to nearly EVERY European nation, including the Balkans. Do you realize that we had 300,000 people in uniform alone stationed in Germany for 50 years, rotating out every three years on average? Millions upon millions of Americans have been stationed in Germany alone.

My brother IS German. He studied Medicine at Justus Liebig in Giessen GE. (http://www.uni-giessen.de/uni/ ) He liked your “socialism” so much that he now lives in Plano Texas!

Point is: There are MANY of us that have lived or visited Europe. Many many more than the other way around. In fact, large parts of Europe: Portugal, Greece, YU, Romania, Bulgaria…..Either were forbidden to travel in the past or today can’t afford to travel to the US. However, the average American can afford travel to Europe and we do it quiet extensively. Then you add in the DoD which has brought millions there over the years.

Fact is, most Europeans get there whole “expertise” about the US from Hollywood and their state run socialist media. MOST who rip their mouth open have never been here, and have NO idea what they are talking about.

A FEW may get a small glimpse of the US IF they vacation here. Then their whole knowledge of the US is based on what they saw in Florida, the Grand Canyon, Alaska or California. Most, and I mean 99% have NO idea about what the US is, what we represent, our values, even how our government works and state is organized. They are “IGNORANT”, but that sure does not seem to slow them down in making broad sweeping statements that are always the same old $hit. Most any discussion I ever had with a German ended up with me explaining how our system of government and justice work. They have no idea about our military, no idea about our history, other than: “We killed the Indians” and “oppressed the blacks.”

All you need to do to be liked by a self-proclaimed intellectual “old” European is string these words together - Hegemonic, imperialistic, neo-colonialist, oil, Bush, Cowboy, Halliburton - and you’ll be immediately accepted as an intellectual; an expert.

If I were you I’d be embarrassed. I’d be embarrassed about what STATE institutions like the BBC broadcast and call journalism! But no, you and other Europeans with your new found fake sense of European Supra-nationalism, believing in this Pan-European dream feel compelled to defend things like using American caskets in election politics (http://medienkritik.typepad.com/blog/2005/09/election_campai.html ). You feel compelled to defend people taking political advantage of catastrophes like in New Orleans. You revel in the Schadenfreude of the carnage in Iraq. You define yourselves through opposition to the US. “Old Europe”, is a very accurate statement. Why do you think it hit such a nerve with those countries like Germany and France?

Is that enough short words and sentences for you?

Red6

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