Merkel on track for center-right government: exit polls

Reuters ^ | 9/27/09 | Noah Barkin

[SeattleBruce]

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives appear to have won enough votes in a German election to form a center-right government with their preferred partners, the Free Democrats (FDP), exit polls showed on Sunday.

An exit poll from ZDF television put support for Merkel's conservative bloc -- her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU) -- at 33.5 percent and showed the FDP on 14.5 percent. A poll for ARD television gave the center-right an even clearer win.

[wolf78]

I know they do a bit of this in Europe too, but for some reason it seems more sinister here.

Being European is the art of compromise *LOL. For example Germany: Both the Lutheran and Catholic church are recognised by the government and pastors / priests teach in public schools as part of the standard curriculum, but in a concilliatory manner (e.g. they teach creation without negating / attacking evolution). There is no gay marriage, but civil unions (you don't even have to be sexually involved to enter one) are recognized. Abortion is unconstitutional / illegal but not punishable under certain circumstances (i.e. during the first trimester after so called "conflict councelling", in which members of the church or other pro-life groups try to talk the pregnant woman into considering adoption etc. instead). As a result none of the above is really a big issue in elections. Elections in Germany are mostly about the economy.

[johnthebaptistmoore]

This is the ongoing problem with all pro-leftist countries of the world: Some of the people of such pro-leftist countries may not like how its politics work overall, but it’s still what they have been used to politically for many decades. Because of this, the majority of people of such countries don’t fully embrace capitalism and conservatism on all of the issues. Such people are very afraid of actual political change in their country, so, as examples, their taxes, gas prices, and “red tape” remain very high and their health care system remains very crappy.

[Recovering_Democrat]

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2008/07/09/merkel_chides_obama_for_electi.html

Merkel knows Hussein is a hack.

[wolf78]

Some pictures:


Chancellor Merkel together with Pofalla (secretary general of the Christian Democrats)


Cheering Christian Democrats


Morose Social Democrats: Now former Vice Chancellor Steinmeier and party chairman Muentefering


Free Democrats. Party Chairman Westerwelle front and center


Disappointed Greens: Parliamentary group leaders Künast and Trittin


Socialist leaders Bisky, Gysi and Lafontaine

[Cerb]

I’d be happy if it turns out that way. Finally a government without the SPD....! If they get Germany out of the crisis remains to be seen, but one thing is sure: That would be the government that the terrorists did not want to see. Glad that my compatriots couldn’t be bullied.

[Fingolfin]

It is good that the conservatives and free marketers won, but where do they stand on immigration? If they continue to allow in immigrants, especially Muslims, then little else matters. Nothing else will matter if in 40 years Germany is a Muslim country.

[jeltz25]

So much for the world loving Obama. Since he was elected, Israel went to the right, Germany has gone to the right, Italy has gone to the right, Japan dumped the pro-US party for a more anti-US party, and from all accounts the UK is poised to go to the right next year.

Next year Obama will likely be the most left wing leader of all the G7 countries. Possibly the most left wing leader of the P5 members of the Security Council.

[ksm1]

Maybe. But, what’s most interesting is that the Free Democrats—Germany’s libertarian party—picked up a number of seats as well.

[ksm1]

I prefer the European monetary policy under Trichet where they focus solely on capping inflation, but I much prefer American pre-Obama fiscal policy.

[jveritas]

Inflation? Almost everything we buy in the US is cheaper than in Europe. Our purchasing power in the US is higher than in Europe.

[SunkenCiv]

Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives appear to have won enough votes in a German election to form a center-right government with their preferred partners, the Free Democrats (FDP)

This means, of course, center-right within the context of German politics.

[MSF BU]

Yes, and as noted above with a sodomite leading the party. That’s progress, I suppose, in they eyes of many people.

[Theodore R.]

I know they say she is “center-right”, but isn’t she just about like all the other tepid European figures?

[SeattleBruce]

It is good that the conservatives and free marketers won, but where do they stand on immigration? If they continue to allow in immigrants, especially Muslims, then little else matters. Nothing else will matter if in 40 years Germany is a Muslim country.
+++++++++++++

Good points.

[cookcounty]

Europe is slowly waking up....I sincerely hope, for their sake and ours, that it is not too late.