GERMAN ELECTION (Running Thread): Schroeder by a Nosehair

Die Welt- translated ^ | 9/22/02 | Die Welt

[RobFromGa]

Election turnout probably smaller than 1998

Large opinion

Berlin/Rostock (dpa) - with the election to the Bundestag a smaller participation than before drew four years starting from 1998 lay it Germany far with 82,2 per cent in the late Sunday afternoon. However the returning officers reported high letter voter at the same time of a ratio. Everywhere the letter voters were not already taken in account. Thus a factor of uncertainty remained existing.

As one inquires around approximately three hours before locking of the polling stations resulted in, to against 15.00 o'clock in most Lands of the Federal Republic a clearly lower election turnout was registered. In Saxonia-Anhalt the participation lay at this time approximately 15 points under the values of the yearly 1998, in other Lands of the Federal Republic up to eight points. Also in the capital went to Berlin with herbstlich to cool weather clearly less voter to the urns.

On the other hand there was the tendency in few other Lands of the Federal Republic also to an easily higher election turnout - in such a way in Schleswig-Holstein and in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where at the same time a new federal state parliament was selected.

In Saxonia the returning officers spoke first of a surprisingly large resonance, then the interest decreased/went back however clearly. Also in Bavaria the choice encountered in the first hours in some cities a substantially larger interest than 1998. There the participation up to 12 per cent points in the comparison rose to the same time before four years. Against noon this tendency decreased/went back likewise, of a clear minus was later spoken. It was similar in North Rhine-Westphalia and Hamburg.

From other Lands of the Federal Republic a rather weak resonance was determined. In Hessen, Thuringia, Saarland and Bremen the values decreased/went back. Also in Rhineland-Palatinate, Brandenburg and Lower Saxony the crush was smaller than 1998. In Baden-Wuerttemberg it meant: Election turnout constantly.

The polling stations for the election to the Bundestag had opened o'clock punctually at 08.00. 61,2 million Federal citizen were called to select a new parliament. With the election of the federal parliament in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania were entitled to vote about 1.4 million citizen.

After last inquiries and prognoses to the exit the SPD with Federal Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder was appropriate for the election to the Bundestag scarcely before the union with her candidate for the chancellorship Edmund Stoiber (CSU). Since also the smaller parties FDP and the Green were strongly estimated approximately in each case equal, the continuation of the red-green coalition was considered as uncertain. For a government majority in the parliament it could be crucial whether the Party of Democratic Socialism draws again into the Bundestag or not.

The Social Democrats set to come into the proximity of their result from 1998 to. At that time they reached 40.9 per cent of the secondary voices. CDU/CSU had slipped before four years to 35,1 per cent, their secondaryworst result with elections to the Bundestag. The Greens reached 6.7 per cent, the FDP came on 6,2 per cent. The Party of Democratic Socialism overcame the five-per cent hurdle with 5,1 per cent scarcely.

After last inquiries in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania a confirmation of the red-red coalition of SPD and Party of Democratic Socialism under head of the government Harald Ringstorff (SPD) applied as extremely probable. 1998 had the SPD 34.3, which reaches Party of Democratic Socialism 24.4 and the CDU 30.2 per cent.

[marajade]

So do the parties that get the most votes or seats have anything to do with Schroeder winning?

Do the different parties already know who they are going to support?

[brydic1]

Anyone notice that the tone of the german (english speaking) changes with the prospect of a conservative victory. Joyful as it appears that the left is going to win and unbelievable mournful as it appears to be losing. Almost like our media.

[eabinga]

Do the different parties already know who they are going to support?

Pretty much so...surprises notwithstanding

[marajade]

So does that mean if so many parties support Schroeder he wins even though he might get less votes?

[tomahawk]

I did notice that. It really put a chill in me when I heard the commentator sounding happy when saying "It looks like the Red-Green coalition will remain in power".

[SkyRat]

Anything is possible.

We might even see an ample coalition, that is Red/Yellow/Green or SPD/FDP/Green Party.

Although thats pretty unlikely

[eabinga]

Anyone notice that the tone of the german (english speaking) changes with the prospect of a conservative victory. Joyful as it appears that the left is going to win and unbelievable mournful as it appears to be losing. Almost like our media.

Haven't noticed or paid attention. Am watching their govt. TV, and they are about as emotional as a c-span commentator.

[Lessismore]

From Die Welt via Babelfish

FDP point requests Moellemann to the resignation

Berlin - the deputy FDP chairman Juergen Moellemann was requested in the Sunday evening by the presidency of his party unanimously to the resignation. Moellemann explained as it: Dies is this evening the bitterest hour during my membership and cooperation in the FDP. It did not call the exact demand, which addressed the party leaderses to him. Moellemann explained however, he wanted to think now one night and express himself on Monday before the Federal Administration of the FDP.

[marajade]

What a goofy way to run elections...

And these countries criticize us?

[PaulKersey]

Direct TV small dish live coverage of the German elections is on Channel 358, CNN INTERNATIONAL.

[tomahawk]

Good guys 46.8
Bad guys 46.0

[SkyRat]

Man, these translations suck. Thanks for the info, tho

[eabinga]

What a goofy way to run elections...

Not really, it's actually quite clever...

[Lessismore]

Westerwelle: We stayed clearly behind expectations

FDP boss Guido Westerwelle appeared very disappointed over the provisional result of the election to the Bundestag. We stayed clearly behind expectations, said Westerwelle. The FDP will work however to ascend again into the first league of the party landscape. Because of its recent Israel criticism disputed party vice Juergen Moellemann was not present on the FDP stage in Berlin.

[thedugal]

That is a totally different tally than the site posted before... That one has Schroeder winning???

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

I predict Germany and France will have a competition over which is the most rotted-out corpse in Western European.

France will capitulate.

[windchime]

FNC-Robert Kimmitt, former ambassador to Germany, is giving exit poll information with Stoiber ahead fractionally.

[Torie]

The excess overhang has not been calculated. It may not be known for hours.

[marajade]

They stated Gore won too...

We may not know until all the vote counts are in...

I wonder what they use to calculate vote tallies?