Gerrmany: [Chancellor] Merkel victory in doubt after left-wing surge in regional elections

The Times ^ | 8/31/2009 | Roger Boyes in Berlin

[bruinbirdman]

The Left Party, the old East German Communist Party — became the second biggest force in Thuringia with 26 per cent of the vote.

Germany’s lacklustre national election campaign was thrown open last night when left-wing parties made a surprise surge in two key regional states.

Early results from elections in Thuringia and Saarland showed that Chancellor Angela Merkel will face a much stronger opposition than expected in the general election. Political pundits had assumed that Ms Merkel would be a shoo-in on September 27 and that she was poised to rule Germany with a coalition of Christian Democrats and the small, pro-business Free Democrats.

But her Christian Democrat Party was hit hard by voters in what seemed to be a general protest against the conservative party identified with a tarnished financial and banking elite. Suddenly, the terms of this national election campaign have changed.

Ms Merkel remains the most popular politician in the country but it is now unclear with what coalition she intends to rule and how she will realise her dream of introducing a “progressive conservatism” to Germany.

“These results show that there is no support in the country for a coalition between Christian Democrats and Free Democrats,” said Frank Walter Steinmeier, leader of the centre-left Social Democrats, Ms Merkel’s main rivals. “It also shows what an unreliable indicator opinion polls have become. We will fight for outright victory on September 27.”

What seemed to be emerging last night was the prospect of a left-wing coalition governing in two important regional states.

But it was also plainly a vote of no confidence in Ms Merkel.

The Left Party became the second biggest force in Thuringia with 26 per cent of the vote. Together with the Social Democrats and the Green Party, a new left-leaning government could take

[cartan]

I don’t care who wins the federal election. Either we get the red-flag waving socialist Steinmeier, or Merkel, the “progressive conservative.”

I wonder just how far the country has to go down the drain until people realize that emulating the economic system of North Korea is not going to make things better.

[American Silver Eagle]

I thought based on how she governed Merkel was the left wing alternative.

[Malesherbes]

The Left Party, Die Linke, is just a warmed over version of the old SED, the East German Communists. The SED contained many “reformed” ex-Nazis, and the transition from one form of national socialism to another never proved difficult.

[dr_who]

Hang tough, Frau Merkel, don’t give in, and one day you’ll win big.