Posted on 10/02/2005 1:30:33 PM PDT by ex-Texan
DRESDEN, Germany (AP) - Partial vote returns from the last district in Germany's parliamentary election Sunday indicated that conservative challenger Angela Merkel's party would gain one legislative seat, giving her some extra momentum in coalition talks to form a new government.
With 172 of 260 electoral districts reporting, Andreas Laemmel from Merkel's Christian Democrats led with 37.2 percent, while Marlies Volkmer from Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's party received 32.2 percent.
A third candidate in Dresden, Katja Kipping of the Left Party, made up largely of former East Germany communists, trailed with 19.2 percent.
That result, if it holds, would give the conservatives a four-seat edge - 226-222 - in Germany's 614-seat lower house, the Forschungsgruppe Wahlen polling agency projected on ZDF public television.
While the outcome of the Dresden vote does not significantly alter the results of the Sept. 18 election, the strength of an extra seat in parliament is expected to give the conservatives a psychological advantage heading into coalition talks, which have been stalled because both Merkel and Schroeder claim a mandate to be chancellor.
Roland Koch, the conservative governor of Hesse state, said the vote confirmed the Christian Democrats and their Bavaria-only sister party, the Christian Social Union, as the strongest bloc in parliament, and it should choose the next chancellor.
``I see it as a step toward stability that we need to explain to the Social Democrats to stick to the rules,'' Koch said. ``I see it as a signal for Angela Merkel.''
More than 72.1 percent of those eligible in this east German district had cast ballots, officials said just after polls closed at 6 p.m.
The high turnout reflected how seriously the 219,000 registered voters here are taking balloting, which was delayed due to the death of a candidate during the election campaign.
The Sept. 18 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 economy and strengthen relations with Washington.
Both Merkel and Schroeder claim the chancellorship, making exploratory talks over whether there is enough common ground between the two to form a so-called ``grand coalition'' difficult. The two were forced into the arrangement because neither won a majority.
Such a slow pace is frustrating other parties, such as the Free Democrats, who also could try to build a government with the conservatives if a grand coalition fails to coalesce.
``What can't be agreed upon in two weeks will not be any better in four weeks,'' Wolfgang Gerhardt, the parliamentary leader for the Free Democrats, said before Sunday's vote.
He criticized current plans to end negotiations as early as Oct. 31 as being too late and not indicative of a government capable of bringing about badly needed reforms to create jobs and kick-start Europe's largest economy.
Free Democrats head Guido Westerwelle celebrated the preliminary result, saying it should persuade Schroeder to drop his demand to be Germany's leader.
``It means that Mr. Schroeder must finally understand that his time is up,'' Westerwelle said.
The most liberal German parties refuse to cooperate with Merkel. I predict Deutschland may still be debating the fate of Herr Schroeder on October 10th.
Gerhard Schroeder - Al Gore's twin.
Looks like the exit polls were fairly right, except that the margin of error playing out in Merckel's favor.
CDU is running 5 points ahead of their election night figures in this race.
Based on the numbers on election night CDU would have won this seat by less than half a percent. I came up with that figure based upon the results from the last election to this election for the other dresden seat.
Schroader's drunken episode on election night really turned off the voters.
This would be like if they held the election in ohio between bush and gore 2 weeks after the election and bush won by 7 points instead of 2 points.
If I were CDU I would try to get another election. If Schroader wants that fine. The voters are in a mood to reject Schroader. All it would take is a swing of 3 percent to give CDU and FDP the majority and in this seat they gained 5 percent.
Another election is not a bad idea. It will be a better option than the *Grand* coalition, which is another term for Status Quo.
Follow me on this: Schröder asserts that he should be chancellor because he stood up to GWB. Never mind that he didn't actually lead that charge, but just followed behind Chirac. But what did he get? Nothing. The US/UK/coalition went in anyway. If anything Schröder succeeded in revealing to the world the weakness of not only Germany, but the EU.
Continuing on this path will only bring more of the same.
The BBC via PBS just reported the two parties are deadlocked again. Schroeder and Merkel will have to form a "Grand Coalition" according to the BBC. I don't believe these reports personally. For one thing, I do not know when the news report was taped. For another, the Brits do not understand how the Germans think. But if this is the case, Germany will have to pay millions for another election. The people have election fatigue. This is the worst possible outcome, if true.
Lost twice, still not giving up?
Dresden vote adds pressure on Schröder to concede defeat
By Bertrand Benoit in Berlin
Published: October 3 2005 03:00 | Last updated: October 3 2005 03:00
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/45abf69a-33aa-11da-bd49-00000e2511c8.html
Germany's Conservatives Gain One Seat
Yahoo News/AP | Oct. 2, 2005 | FRANK ELLMERS
Posted on 10/02/2005 4:10:56 PM PDT by FairOpinion
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1495385/posts
Merkel's Coalition wins final seat, bolstering the CDU.
BBC NEWS
Posted on 10/02/2005 5:54:27 PM PDT by HHKrepublican
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1495438/posts
Schroeder should quit as chancellor: brother
Expatica | 9/27/05
Posted on 09/27/2005 11:01:08 PM PDT by Uncle Joe Cannon
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1492649/posts
No talks until Schroeder gives up chancellery: Merkel
Expatica | 9/26/05
Posted on 09/26/2005 2:52:53 PM PDT by Uncle Joe Cannon
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1491713/posts
German minister: Hamas must renounce terror
AP | 10/2/5
Posted on 10/02/2005 12:01:48 PM PDT by SmithL
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1495311/posts
:')
Joschka Fischer, playing "a militant role in left-wing student protests in the 1970s" but opposing "violent guerrilla tactics", by beating up a German police officer:
http://www.fpp.co.uk/online/01/01/Joschka040101.html
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