Posted on 09/18/2005 12:12:37 AM PDT by alessandrofiaschi
Voting began in Germany's closely fought election today with millions of undecided voters holding the key to a result that will have major implications for economic reform in Europe.
Angela Merkel, a Christian Democrat (CDU) chancellor, is expected to emerge as Germany's first woman chancellor, displacing Gerhard Schroeder who has led Germany for the past seven years at the head of a centre-left government of Social Democrats and Greens.
A provisional result is expected to be announced in the early hours of Monday morning. The final opinion polls published on Friday gave Merkel's centre-right coalition with the liberal Free Democrats (FDP) a slim lead in a race it once dominated.
High stakes For Germany and the rest of Europe, the stakes in the election are high. Some five million Germans are out of work, the country's pensions system is in crisis, its public finances are overstretched and the economy that once drove growth in Europe is now acting as a drag on the rest of the continent.
Analysts say that if Germany succeeds in pushing through reforms, they could be a model for change in the rest of Europe. Surveys show that most Germans believe the system needs changing but they are deeply uncertain about how far the changes should go and how the burden should be shared.
Schroeder's own "Agenda 2010" reforms to welfare and labour market rules have been the most ambitious attempt to overhaul the social security system in decades. They have been attacked by the conservatives and by some commentators as not going far enough. The reforms were bitterly resented by voters. - Reuters
Hey, I just looged in and I hear Steve Merkel from that sitcom is the head of Germany? He was a bit nerdy, but I hear he is pretty smart.
Well at least you got rid of Schroder.
Hopefully Linke will self destruct under Lafontaine's leadership and break appart into two parties.
If Linke hadn't been formed you would have a Yellow-Black coalition.
I suspect there will be a grand coalition government, which won't last long. Or the SPD will rule with tacit Communist support. The election was a bust. Germans simply are not yet ready for a cold shower. Laissez les bon temps roulez still have a few more measures to play.
"Or the SPD will rule with tacit Communist support."
The SPD leaders like Schroder and his probable replacement Munterfering (sp?) have said they will not negotiate with Linke, so it looks like a Grand Coalition is on the way.
Such a shame since I still think Merkel has big potential as a leader.
Winning through financing, a fascinating concept.
As I said, Germans don't like cold showers. They like spas.
True, but I actually like the Germans so I will try and keep a small shred of hope alive and hope that the Left party breaks apart before the next elections are called :)
Michael,
You know I don't dislike you. That's why I took you around and showed you our tanks and Bradley's, war trophies, HQ's etc.
It is NOT intended as an insult when I say that you don't represent the "Zeitgeist" of the German people. They are "socialists", you are not.
Like many of your countrymen snooping around in US conservative chartrooms and forums, you feel obliged to defend Germany. "I am German, therefore I will defend my nations actions and position on issues", is the thought. As noble and patriotic as it is, you are defending the indefensible. You are trying to make sense of lunatic behavior because after all, you feel an attachment to your country and fellow German.
These elections have shown that Germany has been over-run by the "socialist" ideology. Anti-Americanism is rampant and it's acceptable in German politics to play on this, even fuel it. As in 2002 Schroeder heavily relied on it in this campaign and yes, “it did” help him.
The Germans will continue down their path, “Der Deutsche Weg.” They will continue to be a society in decline. They are led by ideologists with no concept of pragmatism; the Germans will continue to see strength in opposing and defacing us, all awhile sitting in the same boat with us and wanting to benefit from our actions. The real threats out there, Libya, Syria, Iran, potentially China, N. Korea will not be touched. Even the war on terror Germany will only play a minor role in. They will talk big but rather not take a “true” leadership role. The only courage the Euro-socialist has is when talking about the US. After all, we don’t blow them up when we disagree unlike Iran which may. Where it really matters they will let us pay the bill in blood, economics and political black eyes, but they will criticize us the whole way as we tackle those issues without them. Example: Vietnam, Korea, Grenada, Angola, Afghanistan 1980s……. Like in the Cold War, Germany will take no leading role, criticize us yet not be the one paying for it either. But you better believe that they will want to sell a BMW in Iraq in a few years!
Think about this Michael. You live in a country where even when the floor is falling out underneath economically, even if the ruling party has FAILED in what it itself promised, they can potentially win by saying: “Ordentliche Sozialpolitik” and “Hegomoniale imperialistiche US amerikanische oel streitmacht”.
The conservatives can’t even win if the socialists fail. The conservatives can’t win if they tell the truth. They can’t win anymore even when you put a Dr in Physics and lawyer, the latter a highly successful business man up as candidates against criminals who lived off of the state for part of their lives “Fischer”.
Germany has gone from Stupid to lunatic. These elections prove it! I stand by what I told you. You don’t represent the Germans.
Red6
Germany is going to implode economically despite the vote. There are too many old commies from the old East Germany laying about sucking up welfare benefits. I mean people over 60 who are too worked out and soul tired to ever work again. In the meantime, the country is flooded with young Turks, Slavs, and refugees from Eastern Europe.
The real Germany is no more. Right now it one the verge of total social breakdown like it was just before Hitler came to power. It is going to get very ugly before it gets better.
Just my humble opinion, people. Please hold the flames.
Pretty accurate I'd say.
Red6
Ok, the final*) results are here:
225 Seats CDU/CSU - Merkel
222 Seats SPD - Schröder
61 Seats FDP - Liberal Party
54 Seats Linke - Communist Party
51 Seats Die Grünen - Green Party
*) One Seat is missing from Dresdnen, the election is in two weeks there.
The Left parties have a clear majority of seats. That is the bottom line. Angela Merkel will not I suspect be running the government.
Sadly...I apply this sentiment to many countries...including the our great USA....
Dewey wins!
Haha, good laugh on your behalf.
Thanks, K.O.!
225 Seats CDU/CSU - Merkel
222 Seats SPD - Schröder
61 Seats FDP - Liberal Party
54 Seats Linke - Communist Party
51 Seats Die Grünen - Green Party
327 total leftie seats
286 total center-right seats
613 total seats? (or 1 more in Dresden?)
Looks like a hamstrung gov't. The three minor parties will sit it out, Merkel will be chancellor, and will work out something with the SPD.
As others pointed out, the only other possibilities aren't really possible. Merkel won't deal with the Commies; the FDP won't join a coalition with the Greens (and probably vice versa); the SPD and Commies would have serious differences to patch up.
A gov't of CDU/CSU and the SPD is probably going to happen. That would be the most workable outcome, bad as it may seem now.
http://www16.dw-world.de/wahlgrafik/index.php?lang=en
'Hitler row' German minister quits
Monday, September 23, 2002 Posted: 10:36 AM EDT (1436 GMT)
http://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/09/23/germany.minister/
"Another post-poll casualty was Juergen Moellemann, deputy leader of the liberal Free Democrats, who resigned on Monday over a row with a prominent German Jewish leader. Party leader Guido Westerwelle said the row had caused the FDP 'massive damage.'
"Moellemann said he was stepping down in the best interest of his party, though he remains a member of parliament. He said: 'I am resigning from my post as deputy head to spare the FDP an ordeal and further internal preoccupation.'"
GOOD! :0)
Hmmm, one prior time that Germany had a recession, it led to socialism.
National Socialism, if you get my drift.
Let's just try to avoid that this time, shall we?
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