Sources: Merkel to lead Germany

CNN ^ | Monday, October 10, 2005

[F14 Pilot]

BERLIN, Germany (CNN) -- Conservative leader Angela Merkel is set to become Germany's first woman chancellor under a deal with Gerhard Schroeder's Social Democrats, sources from both parties have said.

The deal, which ends Schroeder's seven years in office, breaks a three-week deadlock that started when voters gave Merkel's conservatives a narrow victory but not the majority needed to form a center-right government.

Instead, the two leaders' parties will form a "grand coalition" that bridges the country's right-left split, officials told news agencies.

In exchange for Schroeder surrendering the chancellery, his party gets eight seats in the Cabinet, compared to six for Merkel's Christian Democrats and their Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union, officials speaking on condition of anonymity told The Associated Press.

Under the deal, Schroeder's SPD would head the foreign, finance, labor, justice, health, transport, environment and development ministries, AP reported.

Merkel's CDU/CSU would get defense, interior, agriculture, families, education and economy. CSU head Edmund Stoiber would become economy minister.

Party leadership committees on both sides approved the deal Monday, party officials said.

The deal is expected to pave the way for detailed coalition talks and the formation of Germany's second "grand coalition" between its top two parties since World War II.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Effecetively getting rid of half of Bush's opposition in Europe: France will always hate (despise/envy) us, but Germany (socialist party) was opposing Bush in Iraq because ofthe Green's and their socialist partners in Schroder's government) influence.

Should make dealing with Iran more effective too.

[paudio]

Under the deal, Schroeder's SPD would head the foreign, finance, labor, justice, health, transport, environment and development ministries, AP reported. Merkel's CDU/CSU would get defense, interior, agriculture, families, education and economy. CSU head Edmund Stoiber would become economy minister.

What??? SPD gets more important posts?

[Irishguy]

ha ha ha

only the germans...one party gets finance , the other gets the economy...

anyone care to explain how that works....this is a disaster waiting to happen

[R.W.Ratikal]

Schroeder is and always has been a dedicated communist. Merkle's government, "conservative" only relative to Germany's historic leftist politics, will govern only at the pleasure of Schroeder's socialist party.

Coalition governments are fragile needing always to give in to the leftist-most faction to hold a majority together.

The great weakness of all parliamentary governments is that they last only until one member of the coalition decides to end the government.

Still it's a step forward for Germany. As far as France is concerned, I believe it has moved too far into socialism to recover. It can look forward only to collapse.

[Jess Kitting]

Wasn't the election last month? Why has it taken them so long to declare a winner?

Sounds like the loser took a page from Algore's playbook.

[Unam Sanctam]

In exchange for Schroeder surrendering the chancellery, his party gets eight seats in the Cabinet, compared to six for Merkel's Christian Democrats and their Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union, officials speaking on condition of anonymity told The Associated Press.

This doesn't seem right. CDP/CSU won a greater percentage of the vote, it should have the greater percentage in the cabinet. And SPD seems to get all the important policy positions.

[Malesherbes]

It seems to me that the CDU/CSU sold out so that Merkel could become Kanzlerin. This is simply a formula for stalemate.

[.cnI redruM]

>>>>Sounds like the loser took a page from Algore's playbook

Exactly. GS declared victory the night of the election. It's a good thing Merkel didn't get 'snippy'.

[Lunatic Fringe]

What an odd way to pick a leader. And they made fun of our elections... at least we have clear winners who can set their agendas, not weak coalition administrations that have the support of just 30% of the voters.

[SunkenCiv]

"In exchange for Schroeder surrendering the chancellery, his party gets eight seats in the Cabinet, compared to six for Merkel's Christian Democrats and their Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union, officials speaking on condition of anonymity told The Associated Press."

Yeah, that'll work. Merkel and her copartisans have a minority of the votes in her own cabinet.

Here's another one: In exchange for Schroeder *not* surrending the chancellery, the CDP/CDU should get all the seats in the Cabinet.

Why these coalitions are called "grand" is beyond me.

[SunkenCiv]

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[SunkenCiv]

"Merkle's government, 'conservative' only relative to Germany's historic leftist politics, will govern only at the pleasure of Schroeder's socialist party."

Good point. The great advantage to this gov't is, Merkel can take credit if things go well, and can point the finger of blame at the "partner" in the coalition (IOW, in the correct direction) if they don't.